Like cities across the country, Tempe faces two challenges that could adversely affect quality of life and economic development if we don’t act: affordability and climate risk.

The Phoenix region as a whole saw the highest rent increases in the country in 2018, and Tempe was no exception. Construction of new housing has not kept pace with our population and job growth, increasing competition for homes in Tempe and costs for renters. Supply particularly falls short of demand in denser, walkable neighborhoods near Downtown Tempe, public transit or grocery stores, and other amenities.

Expensive housing in central locations prices people out of these desirable areas and forces them to live further away from work, shopping, and services. This distance between home and destinations makes it less practical to walk or bike, which in turn requires people to spend more time and money just getting around town. With car payments that now average over $500 every month and a total cost of almost $8,500 annually, transportation eats up a large portion of most families’ budgets.

Sprawl hurts family finances, but it also degrades the environment to the detriment of residents and ecosystems alike. Lower density, car-dependent development worsens air and stormwater pollution, and contributes to climate change from vehicle emissions. Roads and parking lots absorb solar energy through the day and radiate heat back at night, which along with heat pollution from vehicles themselves contributes to the urban heat island effect.

Because Tempe is not alone in addressing these problems with the 20th-century city planning model, we can learn from the policy approaches of other cities and regions to meet our sustainability goals and maintain a high quality of life that draws people and business.

Tempe can encourage more walkable development by following the example of Minneapolis, San Diego, and a wave of other cities moving to end apartment bans. Letting people build small, affordable multifamily homes or backyard units increases the housing supply, which both reduces costs for renters and supports local economic activity.