California Needs a Marshall Plan for Housing, According to New Governor

Governor Gavin Newsom talks tough on housing in California.

1 minute read

January 10, 2019, 11:00 AM PST

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Los Angeles Bungalow Court

Los Angeles / Wikimedia Commons

New California Governor Gavin Newsom called for large-scale investment in housing in his inauguration speech, reiterating promises he made during the campaign. "When it came to housing, he briefly but pointedly called for a Marshall Plan for affordable housing," Brock Keeling writes for Curbed. The Marshall Plan, which sought to rebuild Europe after the Second World War, represents one of the largest U.S. investments in history.

Newsome argued that California had a particular obligation to act, contending that the homelessness crisis was a moral issue and pointing out that the state of California has an outsized importance in the United States.

In response to Gov. Newsom's call for ambitious housing action in California, blogger Alfred Twu created a blog post that illustrates how these lofty housing development goals (which would require the equivalent of nine new San Franciscos) could be achieved through infill development, rather than sprawl

Monday, January 7, 2019 in Curbed

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

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.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

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.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

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.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

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.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.