We previously published a legal alert on October 12, 2023, about the extensive housing package that Governor Gavin Newsom signed on October 11, 2023, consisting of 56 bills to help address California’s decades-in-the-making...more
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass last Wednesday announced a new executive order to reduce permitting time for housing by 25-30%, a move that could significantly expand housing production....more
After more than two years of resistance, the city of Coronado, a wealthy island city in San Diego County, has agreed to follow state housing law by setting aside more land for development, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney...more
With the state facing a severe housing crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that will make it easier for universities and other housing developers to build housing and overcome lawsuits from local residents...more
9/21/2023
/ Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ,
Affordable Housing ,
California ,
CEQA ,
Community Development ,
Governor Newsom ,
Housing Developers ,
Real Estate Development ,
Rental Property ,
State and Local Government ,
State Bans
The California Coastal Commission approved a landmark settlement Wednesday with San Diego’s Paradise Point resort aimed at remedying years of Coastal Act violations that have long inhibited public access to the waterfront on...more
As we reported in our prior legal alert, these important new state housing laws will allow for the streamlined approval of qualifying housing development projects on properties where retail, office and/or parking are...more
Housing advocates touted the “Builder’s Remedy” as a clever way to circumvent NIMBY politics and get more housing built. But in the two months since the law has been available to Bay Area developers, few have submitted...more
A measure known as the “Builder’s Remedy” added to the state’s Housing Accountability Act in 1990 has suddenly become the focus of developers looking to bypass typical zoning rules and build high-rise apartment projects....more
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has filed a proposal for a new rule to push local communities to take steps to address housing segregation. HUD said in a release that the rule, announced last...more
Rent control expands as tenants struggle with the record-high cost of housing -
NPR – November 28 -
In November, voters in Florida, Maine, and California approved ballot measures to impose or tighten caps on rent hikes....more
12/6/2022
/ Bay Area ,
California ,
CARB ,
Environmental Policies ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Market ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Real Estate Development ,
Rent Control ,
Rental Property ,
Roads ,
Sustainable Projects ,
Urban Planning & Development
A developer's guide to the Builder's Remedy - Allen Matkins – November 4 -
The so-called "Builder's Remedy" under the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) is disciplinary and applies when a local jurisdiction has not adopted a...more
San Francisco Board of Supervisors approves new fourplex law - San Francisco Chronicle – October 17 - For the second time this year, San Francisco supervisors have passed legislation allowing fourplexes to be built in every...more
New state laws allow housing on commercial properties - Multi-Housing News – September 30 - Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two bills into law that incentivize developers to convert commercial properties into much-needed...more
California voters to decide on repeal of anti-public housing measure in 2024 Los Angeles Times – September 2 Nearly 75 years after amending the state Constitution to make it harder to build public housing, California voters...more
Two state bills may mean new housing in commercial corridors Bullet The Mercury News – August 30 In another effort to ease California’s housing crunch, state lawmakers this week pushed through two bills making it easier to...more
Proposed California affordable housing bills could create more than a million apartments - KQED – August 22 - View in browser Allen Matkins SustDevLndUseUpd August 24, 2022 Focus Proposed California affordable housing bills...more
State launches review of San Francisco’s housing approval practices Bullet SFGate – August 9 The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is launching an unprecedented review of San Francisco's housing...more
Development and construction trends in California’s multifamily housing market Bullet Allen Matkins – July 21 Allen Matkins recently moderated a panel at the California Multifamily Forum to discuss current trends in...more
8/9/2022
/ Climate Change ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Eviction ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Housing Developers ,
Moratorium ,
Multi-Family Development ,
Property Owners ,
Real Estate Development ,
Real Estate Investments ,
Sustainability
San Francisco mayor vetoes law to end single-family zoning, arguing it will actually hurt housing production - San Francisco Chronicle – July 21 - San Francisco Mayor London Breed vetoed legislation that would have eliminated...more
State Supreme Court decision could complicate CEQA review of certain housing projects - San Francisco Chronicle – July 14 - The state Supreme Court has left intact a ruling by the First District Court of Appeal that rejected...more
California cities get more time to rezone land for housing Bullet Pasadena Star-News – July 11 Southern California cities and counties have received a three-year reprieve from a state deadline to rezone land for future...more
California legislators propose helping people buy homes in exchange for partial ownership Bullet KQED – June 16 State legislators are proposing to create a billion-dollar fund in this year’s state budget that would provide...more
Senator Wiener revives plan for by-right affordable housing on certain sites owned by religious institutions or private non-profit higher educational institutions CBS Bay Area – June 10 Last week, State Senator Scott Wiener...more
Warehouse “buffer bill” advances in California legislature Bullet The Real Deal – June 2 A bill that proposes a 1,000-foot buffer zone between large warehouse developments and residential areas has advanced through one...more
Judge rejects lawsuit over California housing density bill (SB 10) Bullet Courthouse News Service – May 12 Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Chalfant held last week that the California Legislature has the...more