The Brief

PHOENIX - A city assessment shows the City of Phoenix has a shortage of about 59,000 housing units, but efforts to solve that are at odds with some residents, as people in the historic Willo neighborhood are asking for an exemption from HB 2721.

The backstory:

HB 2721, which was passed by state legislators in 2024, is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. The law requires towns and cities with at least 75,000 residents to allow ‘middle housing’ such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhomes to be built in neighborhoods traditionally zoned for single-family homes.

"It’s notoriously known in Arizona that we are undersupplied in housing," said attorney Adam Baugh.

Baugh said the change is needed to keep up with housing demand.

"It's the only way I know to create housing

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