Los Angeles will raise its minimum wage incrementally to $15 an hour by 2020. But with an inadequate supply of new housing, will this new spending power simply enable landlords to charge more? Some economists say yes.
Although low-income renters in Los Anegeles were no doubt heartened by news of a forthcoming $15 minimum wage, economists offer words of warning. Rosalie Ray, a UCLA researcher who claimed Los Anegles is the nation's most unaffordable rental market, stands by those grim tidings. Her basic thesis: higher buying power without an increase in supply will push up prices.
From the article: "That means around 700,000 minimum wage workers will have more money to compete for the same low inventory of rental units. [...] L.A.'s Department of Building and Safety is projecting a 29 percent increase in new units this fiscal year over last, with 12,000 units permitted. Still, that isn't enough to keep up with the city's population growth [...]."
Chris Thornberg, Beacon Economics co-founder, agreed: "What we need is housing — period. Whether we build it to be affordable or not, ultimately it's about adding to the supply."
FULL STORY: Minimum wage hike could increase LA rents, economists say
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.