Interactive Mapping Tool Illustrates the Impact of California's Big Housing Bill

A new interactive mapping tool from the urban Displacement Project and the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley illustrates the potential impact of SB 50, the statewide transit oriented upzoning bill authored by State Senator Scott Weiner as a follow up to last year's SB 827.

Jenna Chandler reports on the new mapping tool, explaining how to use the map to visualize the changes the bill could clear the way for in the name of creating more housing supply and lowering housing costs around the state.

"The analysis and map look at neighborhoods surrounding 'high-quality' transit stops and categorize them into five neighborhood types based on existing density and income: high density and high income (blue); high density and low income (green); low density and high income (red); low density and low income (yellow); and low density and diverse (purple)," explains Chandler.

"They study takes into consideration how much land is zoned for residential uses, how much is vacant and 'underutilized,' and how many existing buildings are renter-occupied. To help prevent displacement, SB 50 has a provision that exempts buildings that have been occupied by tenants within the past seven years."

Carolina Reid, faculty research advisor for the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, is also quoted in the article providing more insight into the message the team hoped to impart in creating the mapping tool.