A new study in the San Francisco Bay Area says no, that had there been no controls in place there would be only 6.5% more housing built over the past 50 years.
The reason is that the Bay Area land being conserved is unsuitable for most housing, and affordable housing in particular.
John Wildermuth writes, "Over the years, developers and business groups have complained that converting so much land into protected open space has made what's left so expensive that young families can no longer move into the area.
"Now we have the research that says that's not really true," said Michele Beasley, a senior field representative of the Greenbelt Alliance. "We have an affordable housing problem, which won't be solved by million-dollar homes on hillside lots.""
FULL STORY: Open space little effect on housing, study says
Public Lands Can Help Us Tackle the Housing Crisis in the West
The U.S. owns more than 650 million acres of public lands, and it has the power to sell or lease limited parcels for affordable housing. But mass disposal of public lands, as some legislators have proposed, is not the answer.
New Book Highlights Human Side of Homelessness Crisis
A San Francisco reporter’s empathetic portrait of unhoused Bay Area residents reminds readers why supportive housing is worth fighting for.
New Map Puts Bay Area Traffic Data in One Place
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Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
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San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
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HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
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Surf’s Upcycling: Hawai‘i’s Latest Green Building Material is Recycled Surf Boards
“Surf Blocks” are fire-resistant, termite-proof, and close the loop on mountains of waste from the state’s beloved sport.
Building Age-Friendly Homes
Designing for the unique needs of elderly people can help them maintain social connections and mental acuity.
Nightlife and the 15-Minute City
Plans for compact, walkable cities often don’t address nighttime concerns like transportation and lighting, which can make neighborhoods more vibrant and safe around the clock.
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.
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City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
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Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
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