Historic Phoenix neighborhood pushes back against multi-unit housing bill

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Neighbors in the Willo Historic District in Phoenix are pushing back against a new law that could potentially turn their quaint neighborhood homes into fourplexes.

House Bill 2721, also known as the “Middle Housing Bill,” was signed by Governor Hobbs last year and will go into effect in January 2026.

The bill would allow duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes on any single-family zoned property within one mile of the downtown of medium to large cities across the state. The bill also says that municipalities may not set owner-occupancy requirements, limit the height of housing developments to less than two stories, or set regulations that are more restrictive than those required for single-family homes.

While the bill aims to tackle Arizona’s limited affordable housing options by increasing the density in the city, neighbors in the Willo Historic District feel that there are other ways to do this without uprooting their homes.

“You now got people looking into your backyard and losing that entire privacy and the character of this entire neighborhood, which our conservation plan requires we ensure,” said Willo Historic Neighborhood Association President, Brad Brauer.

The Willo neighborhood is one of the largest historic neighborhoods in Phoenix, with over 700 homes that were constructed beginning in 1878. Its unique architecture and proximity to downtown Phoenix have been a big draw for a lot of people. But residents say this is now in jeopardy because of this new law.

“Once these historic homes are torn down with all of their charm, architectural diversity. They’re not coming back. Their materials as well as the know how to rebuild is lost to history,” said resident Opal Wagner.

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