California Legislature Votes to Revitalize Cities with Downtown Housing
The California Legislature has approved a bill that seeks to revitalize dense, downtown districts in seven cities across the state by creating new, streamlined standards for “high-rise housing” near transit.
The bill, AB 2074, was sponsored by Assembly Member Matt Haney of San Francisco, and it now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for signature into law.
“The pandemic is over, but many of our largest cities are still struggling to bring vitality back to their downtown neighborhoods,” said Brian Hanlon, CEO of California YIMBY. “AB 2074 will expedite the construction of tall residential buildings, alongside existing commercial buildings. Thanks to Asm. Matt Haney for his leadership in helping California’s largest cities recover with more homes.”
The bill requires California’s seven largest transit-rich cities, with populations over 400,000, to designate regional transit districts.
Those cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, and Long Beach.
New Standards
New standards would apply across these districts: a 150-foot height baseline, with at least 25% of each district allowing 450 feet or more. Proposed residential housing projects that meet the bill’s labor standards would be eligible for streamlined approval.
AB 2074 also requires the California Housing Finance Administration (CalHFA) to study existing housing construction loan and financing programs and recommend to the State Legislature how to create a loan program for projects proposed under the bill.
The state has been actively trying to improve housing availability and has taken steps to enforce laws.
State Suing Five Cities
For example, in July California announced it is suing five cities for repeatedly failing to plan for their share of housing, Newsom announced.
KTLA reported that Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) filed lawsuits against Calexico, Costa Mesa, Half Moon Bay, Ridgecrest, and Turlock. The suits accuse each city of violating California’s Housing Element Law.
The station reported that under state law, every city and county must update its housing plan every eight years to meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or its share of the regional and statewide housing needs.
