Flagstaff declared a housing emergency more than three years ago. Since then it’s looked at ways to actually increase the number of available houses. Flagstaff owns about 40% of properties in the city zoned as public facilities, like parks.

The council plans to adopt a zoning resolution later this month that adds residential uses as an option to those city-owned properties.

"I think this amendment is one step forward towards expanding opportunities for housing in Flagstaff." said Zoning Code Manager Tiffany Antol.

One concern for the City Council: whether any houses that go up in the public spaces should be purely affordable or whether they should allow for market rate housing.