Spokane’s housing crisis may worsen as developers threaten to halt construction after the city council raised overdue fees for new water and sewer hookups.
The General facilities charges that developers pay for critical infrastructure like roads, water and sewer access, have increased dramatically, raising concerns about the affordability of housing.
Councilman Jonathan Bingle is negotiating with other council members to find common ground, arguing that the city needs to work with developers to address the gaps in funding for infrastructure.
The Spokane Association of Realtors claims that the new fees will shut down 2,000 construction projects in the middle of the housing crisis, with 73% of top builders surveyed indicating they would halt projects immediately unless something changes.
The council is hoping to amend the ordinance in a few weeks to find a solution that will benefit both the city and developers.
