Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
darrellowens.substack.com
Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
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Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#2This seems like a way to reduce homelessness and fix the housing market in one fell swoop.
Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#3This seems like a way to reduce homelessness and fix the housing market in one fell swoop.
not sure if its going to "fix" the housing market, but its a step in the right direction, away from nimbyism.
Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#4"
And in the Bay Area, our time is almost up. HCD has made clear than any housing element that doesn’t zone feasibly for new housing especially in affluent areas will have their housing elements rejected. If they’re still in a rejected state by the deadline, their zoning disappears. If a city creates a good housing element and HCD approves, the builder’s remedy turns off and their local zoning is restored — but the projects approved under builder’s remedy will remain.
San Francisco frantically sought to avoid this, especially since HCD drew extra fire on the city and announced a special investigation into the slow housing approval process of San Francisco’s political system. The first ever housing investigation of its kind. Supervisors in the city cried they were being targeted and bullied by the state — but it worked. Fearing total loss of the highly sacred power to approve housing in San Francisco, the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Department & Commission, and the political activists of the city assembled quite a radical (but potentially lemon) housing element. One that proposes to upzone corridors in SF’s wealthier and lower density westside, something that was long believed to be politically impossible a year or two ago.
HCD reviewed SF’s housing element and said it “largely compiled” with the state’s rules, even though it was heavy on promises. As such, SF will not be subjected to the builder remedy on Wednesday. Shockingly, only a few other Bay Area jurisdictions can claim to keep their zoning as of writing this: Emeryville, Redwood City, and Alameda city. "
It's difficult to tell who's backing what.
Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#5Wow that's great news!
The level of bureaucratic creep that has been imposed on property owners is actually unbelievable to me. I obviously understand some regulations (you can't built a chemical processing plant in a residential neighborhood, obviously), but cities have creeped themselves into all-powerful overseers.
Most cities now have the power to tell you what kind of house you can build, how you can paint it, how you can landscape it, what kinds of cars you can keep in your own driveway, what you can do in your leisure time on the property etc.
It is insane.
I honestly hope there is a property-rights case that abolishes all of this. If I own the property, then it's mine. If I want to collect old VW busses and park them in the front yard, I don't care what effect this has on my neighbors property value. This is my home. If you don't want to deal with living near other people, move to the country.
Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#6In principle, I hate this. Cities should be able to plan their own growth.
In practice, coming from CA, I am 100% onboard. It's a mess of red tape and bullshit lawsuits.
Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#7Soon the peaceful suburbs of California will look like congested cities like Seoul or Mumbai with a whole bunch of slums thrown in between.
Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#8This seems like a way to reduce homelessness and fix the housing market in one fell swoop.
Fixing homeless requires removing homeless, not adding homes. It's a law enforcement problem, not an economic problem.
Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#9This seems like a way to reduce homelessness and fix the housing market in one fell swoop.
not sure if its going to "fix" the housing market, but its a step in the right direction, away from nimbyism.
Fair point, perhaps I should have said "achieve a lower equilibrium price point." Maybe that would have been wordy and technical enough for HN?
Re: Builder's Remedy goes into effect in many California cities tomorrow
#10This seems like a way to reduce homelessness and fix the housing market in one fell swoop.
> reduce homelessness
Is the homeless problem due to the cost of housing? Or is it moreso due to fentanyl?