2025 Housing Forward Proposals

MADISON - We all want Madison to be affordable for teachers and firefighters, bus drivers and baristas, nurses and mechanics – all of the people who make this City such an amazing place to live and work. And we all know that when there are not enough homes in our city, these people get priced out. If we want a community that is culturally, racially, and economically diverse, we have to build more homes, and we have to make those homes affordable for ordinary working people.???  

A mix of homes – of all sizes and prices – gives more people a chance to own their home, build wealth, and provide a solid foundation of economic stability and opportunity for themselves and the next generation.

Three new proposals will make it easier to build the types of smaller homes that we used to build and already see in many of the City’s more established neighborhoods. They will also simplify the permit process for some types of housing to lower the risks of building it. These steps will help create enough homes so that people from all walks of life can live all around our city.

• Proposal 1: Allow duplexes, or twin homes, in all residential areas

• Proposal 2: Allow more property owners with deep residential lots to split those lots, creating “Backyard Lots”

• Proposal 3: Simplify the permit process for small and medium sized housing developments downtown...

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Leo`s Notes: Madison’s 2025 Housing Forward proposals are a bold, sensible step toward a more inclusive and affordable city. By legalizing duplexes citywide, easing lot splits for backyard homes, and simplifying downtown permitting, these reforms will unlock more housing options for everyday residents—teachers, nurses, service workers, and seniors alike. If we want a diverse and thriving Madison, we must build for it. How do you think this can be applied to YOUR COMMUNITY?