Robotaxi Charging Lots Could Complicate San Francisco Housing Development

The growth of autonomous taxis could be contributing to San Francisco’s housing crisis, according to an article by J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle.

“From Jackson Square to the Mission to SoMa, some San Francisco property owners are trading in risky, but potentially lucrative, housing developments for the relatively easy money offered by the autonomous vehicle industry’s growing need for fleet charging lots.” Now, hundreds of proposed housing units are being nixed in favor of robotaxi charging lots.

Dineen points out that charging stations are themselves expensive and require a Planning Commission hearing. “For developers looking to make long-term income from AV fleet charging, that level of investment could be worthwhile. But it’s probably not attractive as a temporary use while a builder is waiting for interest rates and construction costs to come down to the level where housing works.” However, in a city where housing development can already be prohibitively expensive, AV charging lots, operated by multi-billion-dollar companies with deep pockets, could become a major competitor for urban real estate.