The Myth of “Neighborhood Character”

Whenever the topic of affordable housing comes up, you’ll often hear the same refrain: “It’ll ruin the neighborhood’s character.” At first glance, that sounds reasonable. Who wouldn’t want to protect the charm of their community? But let’s pause for a moment—what does “neighborhood character” actually mean?

The truth is, this phrase is often a polite way of saying, “We don’t want anything to change.” Sometimes, it’s even about keeping out people who don’t look, act, or earn like the current residents. It’s an argument that’s been used for decades to exclude and divide, and it’s time we talk about what’s really at stake when we prioritize “character” over progress.

What Are We Protecting?

Let’s start with some history. Zoning laws—the rules that dictate what can be built where—weren’t always about organizing growth. Many were designed to keep certain people out. While blatant discrimination is illegal today, many of those exclusionary rules live on in policies like single-family zoning. By limiting neighborhoods to large, detached homes on large lots, these rules make it almost impossible to build affordable housing for teachers, first responders, service workers, and countless others who keep our cities running.

When people say affordable housing will harm neighborhood character, they’re often worried about who might move in. Will it lower property values? Bring in crime? Cause overcrowding? But study after study shows that affordable housing doesn’t do any of those things. Instead, it often strengthens communities, boosting the local economy and bringing new opportunities. So, what are we really protecting?

The Problem With Freezing Time

Here’s the thing: neighborhoods are supposed to change. Cities grow, people move in and out, and new ideas take root. That’s the beauty of living in a dynamic community. But when we hold onto an idealized vision of the past, we stop neighborhoods from evolving to meet current needs.

Take single-family zoning again. In many cities, these rules dominate the landscape. They lock neighborhoods into a specific type of housing—large homes for individual families—without room for duplexes, townhomes, or small apartments. This creates a housing bottleneck, where prices soar because demand far outweighs supply. And it doesn’t just hurt lower-income families; it affects everyone. Workers commute longer distances, businesses struggle to hire staff who can afford to live nearby, and communities lose their diversity and vitality.

A Real Neighborhood Character

If we’re honest, what makes a neighborhood special isn’t the sameness of its houses or the exclusivity of its residents. It’s the people who live there. A truly vibrant community needs diversity—of ideas, cultures, and incomes. The teachers, artists, nurses, and small business owners who bring life to a city should be able to live in it too.

Affordable housing helps make that possible. And contrary to the myths, it doesn’t lower property values or turn neighborhoods into high-crime areas. In fact, it often revitalizes communities, attracting new businesses and giving everyone a better quality of life.

Think about it this way: a neighborhood full of identical homes and identical people might look picturesque, but it’s also fragile. When the community is built on exclusivity, it can’t adapt to change. On the other hand, neighborhoods with a mix of housing types and incomes are more resilient. They’re better equipped to weather economic shifts, cultural trends, and the challenges of modern life.

Time for a New Definition

So, let’s rethink what we mean by “neighborhood character”. Instead of focusing on preserving an unchanging image, let’s prioritize creating places where people can thrive. This means loosening restrictive zoning laws, allowing for innovative housing solutions, and welcoming new neighbors with open arms.

It also means having honest conversations. We need to ask ourselves tough questions about why we’re resistant to change. Is it really about parking and traffic, or are we holding onto outdated ideas about who belongs in our communities?

The Future Looks Bright—If We Let It Be

Affordable housing isn’t a threat to neighborhood character. It’s an opportunity to build stronger, more inclusive communities. Imagine a neighborhood where kids from different backgrounds grow up together, where small businesses thrive because their employees live nearby, and where everyone—no matter their income—has a safe, stable place to call home.

That’s the kind of character worth preserving. It’s not about keeping things the same; it’s about building something better. So the next time you hear someone say, “We need to protect our neighborhood character,” ask them this: What are we really protecting—and who are we leaving out?

Let’s choose progress over fear, inclusion over exclusion, and a future where everyone has a place in the neighborhoods we love.

Will Johnston
Executive Director
MicroLife Institute

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