High gas prices and slowing construction rates in exurban areas may mean that the era of "driving until you qualify" for affordable housing may be over soon.
"During the housing boom that now feels like a lifetime ago, the mantra was 'drive until you qualify.' If you couldn't afford San Diego, you drove up I-15 until you found a subdivision that fit your budget in a place like Lake Elsinore or Perris. If you made $70,000 a year in Silicon Valley, you headed out 580 to Tracy or Manteca in the Central Valley. If Sacramento was too expensive, you drove 45 minutes north to Yuba City."
"All of that driving seems less feasible with every passing day."
"Recent figures released by the California Building Industry Association indicate that housing construction, which is slow everywhere, may be slowest in these exurban areas. In the last few days, we've seen news reports that prices in even relatively close-in suburbs have fallen much farther than prices in central cities - and may not rebound for a long time."
"The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that while prices are holding fairly steady in San Francisco proper, 'Alameda and Contra Costa, across San Francisco Bay from the city and chockablock with anonymous tract housing, are down 18% and 27%, respectively. Bargains exist, but with so much inventory, prices aren't expected to rebound quickly.'"
FULL STORY: Affordable Homes Are Suddenly Beyond Reach
Exurban Sprawl Picking Up Where the Great Recession Left Off
Despite the environmental effects of exurban sprawl, Northern California's housing shortage is being alleviated on the extreme edges of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Council Votes to Allow Development on the York Region's Greenbelt
The York Regional Council took a significant step toward allowing development on a large chunk of the area's greenbelt—a move opponents say will set a dangerous precedent.
Satellite Imagery of a Decade's Transformation
Trends in land use and development are made obvious with satellite imagery tracking changes during the 2010s.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
