From time to time over the past several years, I have written in this blog about various issues arising under the takings clause of the U.S. Constitution. Despite the apparent simplicity of this provision, which prohibits the government from taking private property for public use without just compensation, controversies regularly flare up regarding the question of indirect … [Read more...] about A divided Supreme Court changes the rules of regulatory takings disputes
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California’s thorny ADA thicket continues to vex small businesses
Earlier this year, I wrote a brief post on what I saw as a spike in the number of claims brought in Silicon Valley under the Americans With Disabilities Act, after several of my commercial real estate clients were sued for alleged ADA violations. That piece evoked many similar observations, and was the genesis for a Santa Clara County Bar Association presentation on local ADA … [Read more...] about California’s thorny ADA thicket continues to vex small businesses
San Francisco passes law giving nonprofits first rights to purchase multifamily residential property
California’s shortage of housing, especially affordable housing, is a conundrum that becomes harder and harder to avoid with each passing day. It is only a slight exaggeration for me to say that it seems like I’ve blogged about this problem every month for years. In every conversation I have about Silicon Valley real estate, this situation raises its ugly head, regardless of … [Read more...] about San Francisco passes law giving nonprofits first rights to purchase multifamily residential property
New California housing initiatives face resistance from some local jurisdictions and residents
California's dire housing crisis continues to rouse state lawmakers to legislative action, as I have noted previously in this blog. Literally hundreds of proposed statutory approaches to addressing this chronic situation have been introduced and are being debated in Sacramento, ranging from increased tenant protections to “upzoning” to streamlining the housing development … [Read more...] about New California housing initiatives face resistance from some local jurisdictions and residents
More legislative approaches to California’s housing crisis heading down the pike
California’s perpetual dearth of housing and the state’s ongoing efforts to address that situation have been featured regularly in this blog. Concerns over this predicament have extended to the highest levels of California government: In 2017, Gavin Newsom promised to “lead the effort to develop the 3.5 million new housing units we need by 2025” if he were elected … [Read more...] about More legislative approaches to California’s housing crisis heading down the pike