Quincy exploring housing reforms to add supply
Quincy, Illinois, may reduce parking minimums, allow duplexes and update zoning rules to reduce the housing shortage and improve affordability.
The city of Quincy is considering valuable housing reforms to increase supply and lower costs.
The number of homes for sale in the Quincy metro area has decreased 43% since December 2019, when there were 379 homes for sale. The area only had 215 available for sale in December 2025.
While this decline isn’t as drastic as those in Bloomington or Chicago, it still creates pressure in the housing market and makes it harder for people to call the city home.
The city created a sub-committee on its housing task force to focus on addressing the issue. They have identified three priorities to help create more available units:
- Decreasing parking requirements from two spaces per unit to one-half space per unit.
- Allowing single-family units to be split into two units.
- Revamping the city’s restrictive and outdated zoning plan.
These are all ideas that have proven effective in other cities.
Lower parking requirements allow more room for housing and lower the cost to build and rent in multi-family developments. Researchers estimate the cost of parking raises rents by about 17%. When municipalities require parking minimums, all residents within the housing development bear that cost – even those who don’t have cars to park.
Parking mandates also drive up construction costs, making it harder for projects to be worth the investment. Lowering these requirements doesn’t mean builders will stop building parking. Reducing these mandates gives developers the flexibility to provide the amount of parking needed by the people they’re seeking to serve.
Light-touch density, such as allowing a duplex to be built on land originally set aside for a single-family home, is another way to increase the number of units. Decreasing the amount of land required for a unit also decreases the price, making it more affordable for a young family just starting out or aging individuals looking to downsize.
The American Enterprise Institute estimated Quincy could add 730 additional homes each year through flexibility about where homes can be built. If the city successfully implements parking and density reform, along with revamping the city’s zoning plan, they will be well on their way to that outcome.
More housing will mean more affordable living for residents and more investment in the community. It’s a win-win for existing families and new residents alike.