In a significant week for California's housing crisis, a series of legal and legislative developments have emerged, aiming to address the state's ongoing challenges with housing affordability and density. A California appeals court ruled that state lawmakers can override local voter-approved housing density limits in areas including the Northeast Waterfront Historic District and the Jackson Square Historic District, a decision that upholds legislation designed to encourage the construction of small apartment buildings. This ruling supports State Senator Scott Wiener's Senate Bill 10 (SB10), which has been a focal point in the debate over housing density and affordability, and comes after a NIMBY lawsuit was rejected and a NIMBY constitutional amendment failed to get enough signatures. Concurrently, Supervisor Aaron Peskin's ordinance enacting new density controls in several historic districts of San Francisco has raised questions about its compliance with state housing mandates, with the California Office of Housing and Community Development still evaluating the ordinance. Amidst these developments, California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, have proposed a bill aimed at clarifying the builder's remedy by setting density limits and making other adjustments to foster collaboration between the state and cities in housing development. This proposal seeks to balance predictability and feasibility in housing projects while addressing concerns over unchecked development, such as the controversial 50-story Sunset tower.
The worthless SF bureaucrats are hard to beat. "Historic Nordstrom parking lot" is preserved, instead of building 495 new units of housing in a transit corridor (23% affordable) ... Corrupt nonprofit TODCO, Aaron Peskin and Dean Preston and their NIMBY agenda won this time https://t.co/J4VRfMfCNz
Disgusting corruption stealing from cities most vulnerable and marginalized. How disappointing @HomeRiseSF https://t.co/JtcOLOJIqO
Last week, the CEO of @HomeRiseSF chastised @mattdorsey for calling a hearing about 600 emergency 911 calls in one of their buildings. Today, an independent audit revealed "gross malfeasance" in their spending. Pure hypocrisy and indicative of San Francisco these days. https://t.co/itQT8l1Fgm
Here's an excellent story on @BuffyWicks & @AGRobBonta's AB 1893, the "builder's remedy grows up" bill. In a nutshell: more predictability + more feasibility, in exchange for new limits on density. Read the rest of this 🧵 if you want the details. 1/20 https://t.co/Llwvu7lAIf
WOWOWOWOW! Well @HomeRiseSF - "Gross fiscal noncompliance" is your jam, huh? Misuse of taxpayer funds, missing key financial controls and spending money meant for the most vulnerable on "questionable" items. SHAME. ON. YOU. @Twolfrecovery @SteveAdami @TheVOSF https://t.co/qcLSlWKc1w
OPINION: "Top California officials have announced their newest plan to build more housing in areas that have lost local control over development. But it's not the draconian slap to the face many NIMBY cities were likely expecting," writes @emily_hoeven. https://t.co/q5xSeESHWq
A controversial California housing law could get a makeover https://t.co/obEF1UXnO0
My latest column: Are CA's housing wars entering a more collaborative chapter? A new bill from @AGRobBonta & @BuffyWicks to clarify the builder's remedy -- setting density limits, lowering affordability requirements -- may hold important lessons for SF. https://t.co/rpyAjH0hcg
San Francisco "Progressives" would love to join the effort to stop housing. https://t.co/IvGDNmeiV3
California is trying to throw an olive branch to NIMBY cities. Will they take it? https://t.co/STeGaDLV7p
OPINION: "Top California officials have announced a new plan to build more housing in areas that have lost local control over development. But it’s not the draconian slap to the face many NIMBY cities were likely expecting," writes columnist Emily Hoeven. https://t.co/AEtKNXIFVK
BREAKING in my latest column: @AGRobBonta & @BuffyWicks are extending a housing olive branch with a bill to clarify the builder's remedy. It would end the free-for-all that led to the 50-story Sunset tower by setting density limits, among other changes. ⤵️https://t.co/rpyAjH0hcg
Controversial California Law Meant to Spur New Housing Could Get More Teeth https://t.co/atKHuxxOqo
Pending State Legislation Would Qualify 10% Projects For the Builder's Remedy and Close Existing Loopholes https://t.co/VQTyxSlZkO | by @allenmatkins
A California appeals court ruled that limits on housing density approved by local voters can be overridden by lawmakers, upholding Scott Weiner's SB10. https://t.co/wrk3DtYkjE
Limits on housing density approved by local voters can be overridden by lawmakers, a California appeals court ruled, upholding legislation that was intended to encourage construction of small apartment buildings. https://t.co/leFB236OVP
'Whether Peskin’s bill will pass muster in Sacramento has yet to be determined— a spokesperson at the California Office of Housing and Community Development, which has been riding herd on the city, told us they are “still evaluating the matter.”' https://t.co/rQujKEw7lJ https://t.co/PsWX2LeiTM
SF needs a lot more housing. Are local #YIMBYs using a winning strategy? https://t.co/eXIIoM69kA @BayAreaCouncil @SPUR_Urbanist @HACdotorg @SFyimby
Last week was a good one for solving our housing crisis: Appeals court ruled housing is a statewide issue requiring statewide solutions & rejected a NIMBY lawsuit. NIMBY constitutional amendment failed to get enough signatures. Now let’s continue the work to create more homes.
San Francisco is highly proficient at making housing more expensive "Supervisor Aaron Peskin passed an ordinance enacting new density controls for most development in the Northeast Waterfront Historic District, the Jackson Square Historic District, and the Jackson Square… https://t.co/DFA5eDvjpq