If You Build Housing, Will They Come?

This editorial by the San Jose Mercury News urges San Jose cityofficials to carefully analyze the housing situation in the city beforeproceeding with the construction of housing in Coyote Valley. Thepossibility exists, for example, that the Cisco Systems complex plannedfor the Valley might not actually be completed, in which case immediatehousing construction would create a significant jobs-housing imbalancein the city. Another key issue is the fact that it is not just housing,but affordable housing, that is needed in the area, and building inCoyote Valley is likely to be expensive. In addition, there is thepossibility that housing in Coyote Valley could create a disincentivefor transit-oriented infill housing development elsewhere in the city.