Most Puget Sound Residents Support More Housing Density: Study

SEATTLE — A vast majority of Western Washingtonians are worried about rising housing costs, and are in favor of expanding housing options to address the issue, at least according to a new survey from Zillow Research.

Over the last two months, Zillow surveyed 850 adults living in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue and Spokane-Spokane Valley metros.

Here are some of their key findings:

Respondents preferred "modest densification measures".

72 percent of Western Washingtonians said they were in favor of accessory dwelling units — like backyard cottages and mother-in-law units. Two-thirds said they'd approve of duplexes and 69 percent were in favor of triplexes.

Apartments, on the other hand, were much more divisive. While still a minority, more respondents opposed apartment buildings, and those who were against apartment construction were more likely to say they "strongly" opposed their construction. Conversely, of the 53 percent of Seattle area residents who said they were pro-apartment, almost half said they also felt strongly about the issue.

Some respondents also said they supported apartments, but not in their own neighborhoods. Though 53 percent of Western Washingtonians surveyed said they were in favor of more multi-family residences, only 45 percent said they'd like to see them in their own neighborhoods.

Suburbanites feel the same way.

Residents living outside city limits still generally supported increased housing density in their neighborhoods, with 70 percent saying they support accessory dwelling units. Another 65 percent said they liked duplexes and triplexes and just over half were in favor of apartment buildings or other multi-family residences.

Spokane-area suburban residents felt similarly about duplexes and accessory dwelling units, but less than half (46 percent) said they were in favor of apartments.

Most believe density could create affordable housing.

71 percent of Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue respondents said that small and medium apartments would have a positive impact on affordability. Another 59 percent said they would encourage residents to use alternatives to driving, like public transit.

As for their impact on home values, respondents were more split. Just 48 percent in the Puget Sound area said allowing more home types would have a "very or somewhat positive impact" on existing home values. 62 percent also said they believed it would have a negative impact on parking and traffic— though 60 percent also agreed they'd rather see housing issues improve than have free, secure parking.

Zillow's findings largely align with another recent survey from Pacific Northwest firms Quinn Thomas and DHM Research, which found that more than half of King County adults favored increasing housing density and eliminating single-family zoning within Seattle.

Unfortunately for the pro-density crowd, efforts to expand housing option have largely failed. Just last week, the "Homes for WA Act" failed out of the state legislature. If passed, it would have re-legalized the construction of duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in cities with over 20,000 residents. HB 1904, which would have required landlords to give their tenants six months notice before any rent hikes of 7.5 percent or greater, also failed to advance, The Seattle Times reported.

That said, accessory dwelling units have had more success. House Bill 1660 made it out of the House of Representatives in time, and would require Growth Management Act plans to allow for accessory dwelling units within urban growth areas.