NEW ORLEANS’ HOUSING MARKET IS STAGNATING. AFFORDABILITY MANDATES ARE HOLDING IT BACK, A STUDY SAYS. Source: www.smartcitiesdive.com, Ryan Kushner, Editor, First Published Nov 17th, 2025 DIVE BRIEF: • A new analysis is recommending that New Orleans end a mandatory inclusionary zoning requirement that new residential developments with 10 or more units in certain city districts make 10% of units affordable — meaning affordable to residents at or below 60% of the area median income. • In the current market, the mandate is too costly for developers, according to the analysis by HR&A Advisors. Since 2021, the MIZ policy has yet to lead to any new affordable units in mix-income projects, and only two such units are currently in the pipeline. • Instead, the report recommends the city ask developers to voluntarily set aside 5% of units for residents who earn up to 80% of the AMI and offer additional incentives to cover the gap between market pricing and below-market pricing. DIVE INSIGHT: A declining population and premium rents recently Opening Lines 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
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