Phoenix City Councilmember Laura Pastor this week spoke in support of a bill moving through the state legislature that would make an exception for historic neighborhoods in the state’s new “middle housing” law.
Pastor’s District 4 includes portions of 30 out of 36 historic neighborhoods in Phoenix.
“I’ve heard many concerns from District 4 residents about the statewide required middle housing ordinance and the impact to historic neighborhoods,” Pastor said during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
The state’s middle housing law, which was passed in 2024 and went into effect at the start of 2026, requires duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhomes to be allowed in single-family zoning areas within a mile of downtown in municipalities of at least 75,000. Aside from single-family zoning, it allows middle housing to take up as much as 20% of any new development of more than 10 acres.
This map shows the historic neighborhoods in Phoenix.
(Courtesy city of Phoenix)
There are some exceptions in the law, and the new bill introduced in the Arizona House seeks to add more. If a property or neighborhood has been given a historic designation by the municipality, state or the National Register of Historic Places, the bill wants to exempt it from the middle housing requirement.
Pastor provided testimony in favor of the bill at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
“HB2375 gives cities the flexibility to protect historic neighborhoods while still allowing responsible housing growth,” Pastor said during Tuesday’s council meeting. “We need to expand housing options without losing the neighborhoods that define our city’s history.”
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, and cosponsored by Rep. Aaron Marquez, D-Phoenix, and Sen. Lela Alston, D-Phoenix, who is the minority caucus chair in the Arizona Senate.
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Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.
Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.
Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.
Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.
Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.
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