Does new market rate housing increase the average cost of housing, by inducing demand, or does it help stabilize the housing market by offering new supply? The debate continues in San Francisco.

Proponents of increased housing development in the Bay Area argue that lowering housing costs is as simple as building more housing. They say that the principle of supply and demand requires new housing development to drive prices down. On the other hand, a common counterargument contends that in San Francisco, simply building more housing can't lower prices as the demand is too high and there is simply not enough land on which to build.
Familiar to most San Franciscans is the concept of "induced demand," which holds that the construction of pricey housing attracts wealthy transplants, a process that development opponents argue can upend the historical character of neighborhoods. Despite these concerns, Adam Brinklow points to research suggesting that, "many new housing developments face allegations that building more could drive housing prices higher. Traditional economic thought dictates that these ideas are not only wrong, they’re irrational, like something out of a topsy-turvy Lewis Carroll fable." Put simply, to reduce the market price of housing, cities must build more.
Brinklow calls for a more nuanced approach that considers neighborhoods and gentrifying effects of projects on a case by case basis to balance the need for lower-cost housing and the preservation of charming San Francisco neighborhoods.
FULL STORY: Yes, building more housing will drive down SF home prices—but there’s a catch

America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.

Conspiracy Theorists Discover the 15-Minute City
USA Today debunks the false claim that the United Nations’ call for enabling 15-minute cities is a coded plan to institute ‘climate change lockdowns.’

Massachusetts Zoning Reform Law Reaches First Deadline
Cities and towns had until January 31 to submit their draft plans for rezoning areas near transit stations to comply with a new state law.

Washington Could Legalize Single-Staircase Buildings
Supporters of ‘point access blocks,’ which are common in Europe and other parts of the world, say the design maximizes living space and lowers the cost of construction.

San Francisco Housing Plan Gets State Approval
The city cleared a major hurdle as its housing plan, which paves the way for 82,000 new homes by 2030, is certified by the state.

Rail Transit Plans Would Connect L.A.’s South Bay to the Regional Rail System
Two new transit extensions promise several new routes for South Bay residents to access the Los Angeles region’s transit system.
City of Grand Prairie
City of Grand Prairie
West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Hercules
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
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.