The Washington Chapter of NAIOP has joined Smart Growth Seattle as a sponsor. NAIOP is the commercial real estate association for developers, owners and investors in the industrial, office and related commercial real estate industries.

NAIOP has become a Smart Growth Seattle sponsor because the organization’s work is consistent with NAIOP’s land use agenda in Seattle.

“Affordability in Seattle is a complex topic and we want to encourage a dialogue that focuses on holistic solutions and flexible policy, not just additional fees that could end up limiting supply,” said Don Marcy, Chair of NAIOP’s Government Affairs Committee.

NAIOP has joined with Smart Growth Seattle to support policy that allows the market to advance creative solutions to meeting housing needs, such as microhousing.

“We should discourage policy that overregulates this important tool for meeting housing demand,” said A-P Hurd, President of NAIOP’s Washington Chapter and Vice President of Development at Touchstone, also a Smart Growth Seattle sponsor.

NAIOP also opposes changes to the LR3 Zones in Seattle, since these zones are uniquely able to sustainably welcome more people with a diverse range of multifamily housing products.

“For the past 5 years, we have been involved with the Quality Growth Alliance (QGA) and are acutely aware of the need for Seattle to accommodate growth and meet our GMA targets” added Hurd, “The current mix of building types allowed under LR3 zoning is an important part of meeting those goals.”

NAIOP’s over 700 members represent most of the region’s leading firms in commercial and mixed-use real estate development.

The chapter’s presence is well known in political circles, and its members have successfully impacted proposed legislation that affects the real estate industry. Sponsorship of Smart Growth Seattle is part of NAIOP’s goal of also positively impacting housing policy in Seattle.

NAIOP’s Washington State chapter is also known for its philanthropy, with hundreds of its members volunteering each year on projects ranging from stream recovery to social service center renovations.