The city of San Jose will charge developers a fee to help fund affordable housing projects in the city. But critics say the fees are insignificant compared to the scale of the need.
The San Jose City Council voted this week to impose a linkage fee for commercial developers that will help fund affordable housing projects, reports Maggie Angst.
"Under the new fee structure, developers of downtown office buildings more than 100,000 square feet will have three payment options: paying $12 per square foot upon the certificate of occupancy, $15 per square foot in phases or no fee if the developer agrees to build a certain number of affordable housing units equivalent to the applicable fee," explains Angst.
The 7-4 council vote came after years of debate and skyrocketing housing costs in the most populous city in the Bay Area. The four dissenting voters on the council opposed the fee because they believed the fee isn't high enough to make a significant impact on the problem it is intended to address. The fee is expected to generate $14 million a year for affordable housing in the city.
Angst's coverage presents the housing affordability challenges in the city as the fault of tech companies in the area. Google parent company Alphabet has been aggressively buying up property and expanding around the city, for example, only recently pausing in this effort during the economic uncertainty of the pandemic.
"As developers and tech companies, such as Mountain-View based Google, are pouring more money into San Jose than ever before, longtime residents are getting pushed out of the area due to rising rents and a crippling shortage of affordable housing units," writes Angst.
FULL STORY: San Jose passes new fees on commercial development to fund affordable housing
A Critical Review of "Sick City: Disease, Race, Inequality and Urban Land"
Patrick Condon's new book, "Sick City: Disease, Race, Inequality and Urban Land" recommends tax reforms and housing subsidies to create more affordable and inclusive communities. It is attractive propaganda that deserves critical analysis.
Zoning Reform Skepticism
Ending single-family zoning, as more cities around the United States have begun to do, is too extreme a response to contemporary planning challenges, according to a recent opinion piece published by the East Bay Times.
How Atlanta Plans to Overhaul Zoning for Housing Affordability
The "Atlanta City Design: Housing" initiative is one of the most ambitious planning reform efforts of any large U.S. city, but it's just getting started.
Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
Study: Automobile Dependency Reduces Life Satisfaction
Automobile dependency has negative implications for wellbeing. This academic study finds that relying on a car for more than 50 percent of out-of-home travel is associated with significant reductions in life satisfaction.
San Diego School District Could Accelerate Workforce Housing Program
A proposal to build housing on five district-owned properties could yield 1,000 housing units for low- and moderate-income district employees.
Denver Transit Board Approves $1.2 Billion Budget
The 2025 budget for the Regional Transportation District is the largest in the agency’s 55-year history.
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.
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Village of Glen Ellyn
City of Laramie
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners