For better or worse, the acute, chronic lack of housing in the Golden State is once again the focus of attention. An analysis published recently by U.C. Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation shows that restrictive local zoning has inhibited the development of high-density housing projects in California. This report concludes that, notwithstanding market pressures … [Read more...] about State housing policies conflict with those of Los Altos and other cities as the struggle to solve California’s housing crisis moves to the courts
housing crisis
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
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
Recent legislative responses to California’s housing crisis produce mixed results
I have previously written in this blog regarding our Golden State’s significant scarcity of housing. As this situation persists, it threatens to tarnish the luster of our economy. Even as the new tech boom drives growth to new heights, an acute lack of residential stock (and concomitant high housing costs) is eroding some of our economic strength. In Mountain View, where … [Read more...] about Recent legislative responses to California’s housing crisis produce mixed results
Coming here soon: A clearinghouse for resources and information about accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”)
Recently, I was talking with a couple of friends who work as inspectors with two municipal building departments on the Peninsula. We were discussing SB 1069, enacted in 2016 in order to encourage construction of additional housing units on residential property that has already been developed—these so-called “in-law” or “granny” units, denominated as accessory dwelling units … [Read more...] about Coming here soon: A clearinghouse for resources and information about accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”)