PHOENIX (3TV\/CBS 5) — There is construction going on across the Phoenix metro area, with several apartment complexes being built. But it\u2019s not nearly enough to address the affordable housing crisis across the Valley. Tom Simplot is the director of Arizona\u2019s Department of Housing. He\u2019s placing some of the blame for the housing shortage on city governments that keep rejecting proposals for new multi-housing units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t say you are for affordable housing and additional housing, and simply vote \u2018no\u2019 on any development that comes before you,\u201d said Simplot. \u201cThat\u2019s not acceptable. That\u2019s not realistic and that\u2019s what is happening.\u201d More than two dozen apartment developments were rejected or delayed last year because of backlash from neighbors, which is sometimes referred to as \u201cnot in my backyard\u201d syndrome. But Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega thinks it\u2019s unfair to blame city leaders for the affordable housing crunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the projects they\u2019ve rejected were not good fits for the city, and they\u2019re working hard to bring in the right developments. \u201cThey\u2019re just mega blocks of glob that really does not fit Scottsdale\u2019s character, and we know that,\u201d said Ortega. \u201cI believe we are going to be looking at some true affordable housing, and not get lost in this ploy that everything has to be approved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arizona currently needs about 270,000 housing units to meet the demand of local communities, according to the Arizona Dept. of Housing. Last year, California passed a law that forces cities to create a certain amount of housing or risk losing state funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Real estate developer Michael Lieb is hoping Arizona can avoid similar mandates, but if city leaders don\u2019t find a way to green light more projects, they may not have a choice. \u201cIf that\u2019s not a wake-up call for your mayors and councils,\u201d said Lieb. \u201cIf you don\u2019t understand you need to promote housing and show political leadership and courage to support good projects, it\u2019s going to be forced upon you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n