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California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

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31–40 of 175 posts

Re: California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This bill doesn't propose upzoning the kinds of neighborhoods where the "McMansions" are. Those houses are generally speaking way out in the suburbs and exurbs. SB 50 targets regions close to major cities, and most of that are "old growth" neighborhoods. And, to your second statement: if people do indeed have a "right" to a home less than $2 million, they can exercise that right. It just might not be in Palo Alto.

Alternately, if people want to exercise their “right” to not look at apartment buildings, they should move somewhere rural where land is cheap enough that no one builds them.

That’s exactly what people did ~60 years ago. Bought some farmland way outside San Francisco, built houses and a community. No because a few billionaire execs want to keep their companies close to their houses, we are going to tear it all down? By all means, densify downtown San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. But I don’t understand the perverse desire to add density to far suburbs.

Re: California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

#33

The simplest solution to all this is limiting the number of houses a person can own. You only NEED one. Two is more than enough. Three is excessive. It's not gold or silver or stocks and bonds. People need houses to live in. Other investments don't have practical value. If people want to protect their assets, do it outside real estate.

I don't think multiple-home-ownership is the driver of the housing crisis. In my neighborhood in San Francisco, most homes are either owner-occupied or being rented out by the owner that owns one other house. So are you suggesting that the problem is solved in my neighborhood?

Re: California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

#34

The simplest solution to all this is limiting the number of houses a person can own. You only NEED one. Two is more than enough. Three is excessive. It's not gold or silver or stocks and bonds. People need houses to live in. Other investments don't have practical value. If people want to protect their assets, do it outside real estate.

This is an example of ridiculous government overreach. Should fit right in for California.

Re: California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

#36
post #30
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And where are we going to find teachers, nurses, baristas, garbagemen, plumbers, etc. to service the wealthy homeowners when none of these professions pay anywhere enough for people to live on in places like the Bay Area? Soon places like this will be a mix of billionaires, FAANG workers, the retired, and nobody else.

Probably find them living in tiny capsules and/or shipping containers down by the docks or maybe on top of that superfund site that rich people are starting to get weary about living on/near.

Not much room for "servant's quarters", when your multi-million-dollar condo is like 1200 sq. ft.

Re: California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

#37

I have seen a lot of luxury apartments springing up but, not actual homes people can buy. That is a problem.

It's largely illegal to build units that are sufficiently small to be affordable. Zoning requirements in most places have square foot minimums and amenity requirements (such as parking).

That said, even "luxury apartments" give the wealthy a place to live rather than bidding on existing housing stock, and so do relieve price pressure on older buildings.

Re: California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

#38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The McMansions are uglier anyway. Is your right to not look at ugly boxes more important than other people’s right to have a home for less than $2 million?

This bill doesn't propose upzoning the kinds of neighborhoods where the "McMansions" are. Those houses are generally speaking way out in the suburbs and exurbs. SB 50 targets regions close to major cities, and most of that are "old growth" neighborhoods. And, to your second statement: if people do indeed have a "right" to a home less than $2 million, they can exercise that right. It just might not be in Palo Alto.

Except that NIMBYISM is everywhere. Trlling people to “just move” is not only unfair (see Katrina aftermath) it’s not reasonable since you are exerting undue influence over your neighborhood and essentially the right of others to live near you, but not on you.

Re: California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

#39
post #16

The bay area will lose more experienced older workers if the only way to exist here is to share an apartment with other young single people. Companies should care about this.

Aren’t they already biased against older workers, though? Older workers and startups don’t fit together well.

Re: California bill to add more housing in single-family neighborhoods blocked

#40
post #34

The simplest solution to all this is limiting the number of houses a person can own. You only NEED one. Two is more than enough. Three is excessive. It's not gold or silver or stocks and bonds. People need houses to live in. Other investments don't have practical value. If people want to protect their assets, do it outside real estate.

This is an example of ridiculous government overreach. Should fit right in for California.

Exactly my thought. This isn't about needs, it's about economic rights. If I can afford two homes and choose to buy them, I'm within my rights to do so. Attempting to limit the rights of people isn't going to go very well.
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