Thread by @loridroste

SO WHAT DOES ZONING REFORM HAVE TO DO WITH THE HOUSING ELEMENT? Every ~8 years the city is required by law to update its Housing Element. @Scott_Wiener introduced a bill to help cities across CA address the myriad of problems we face because people don't have places to live.

As I mentioned, Berkeley has to zone for 9,000 homes so...we have to figure out where and how to do it. Here are Alameda County's draft numbers.

We've heard from some ppl that we should appeal for lower numbers. I disagree for many reasons. In fact, I believe if we did that, we would probably get a higher allocation. @CSElmendorf @EthanElkind @mc_lens @elpaavo @trounstine et al wrote about it here escholarship.org/content/qt69j2…

The @ABAGSFBayArea numbers were based on these factors:
1) increase housing supply & mix of housing types,
2) promote infill development & socioeconomic equity,
3) promote intra-regional jobs-housing relationship,
4) balance disproportionate household income distributions, &

5) affirmatively further fair housing.

abag.ca.gov/sites/default/…

So, what does housing supply have to do with high housing costs? A lot. OF COURSE it's not the whole picture but it's a big piece. The nonpartisan California @LAO_CA examined high housing costs & outlined various causes, including a significant housing shortage in on the coast.

Beginning in 1980, California’s housing construction was significantly slower than national and historic averages. Even though there was a national housing boom in the mid 2000s, California’s housing production was relatively stagnant.

Some people state that we have too much market rate housing and we should ONLY create affordable housing. They are wrong and anyone serious about the crisis knows this, including displacement and affordable housing providers.

Affordable housing is absolutely key, don't get me wrong but BOTH affordable and market rate housing help stop displacement. Unfortunately, affordable housing is expensive to create–1 unit costs upwards of $660,000 to build and is just as difficult for individuals to access.

Waitlists for subsidized affordable housing are notoriously long (6,580 for 95 spots in SF; 700 for 42 units in Berkeley)-- the likelihood of acquiring an affordable unit is small. So where do the rest get to live?

Berkeley would need $2.5 billion dollars to create all the affordable housing we need and we should try to figure out how BUT in the meantime, we need to figure out how to help people who can't get those affordable units--students, people making middle incomes, etc.

If we don't accommodate for more ppl, we will see further gentrification and displacement. Again, these are just facts. Because Berkeley is an expensive place to live, ABAG gave us a larger share of low-income units to zone for. There are several ways to accommodate for new homes

So what does infill development and socioeconomic equity have to do with zoning reform? Infill creates homes near jobs. Less driving leads to less pollution.

https://twitter.com/loridroste/status/1372694772796715013?s=20

Also, if we zone for more homes in Priority Development Areas (think big transit corridors), we become eligible for more funding for transportation improvements as well (sidewalks, bike lanes, etc.) @WalkBikeBerk

ABAG’s methodology also promotes socioeconomic equity by increasing the types of housing available in the region with special significance placed on creating homes affordable to lower-income residents in cities “with high resource areas to promote socioeconomic mobility.”

Significant portions of the Bay Area are rent-burdened and Berkeley is no exception. The definition of rent-burdened means that a household pays over 30% for rent. Households are considered severely rent-burdened if they pay over 50% for rent.

It's a generational issue too. We see it at Council meetings! Who is advocating for a place to live?!? Young people. Nearly half of households aged 18-34 are rent-burdened. Homeownership is also increasingly out of reach for younger generations too.

Ok, I’m back! I should add that @Scott_Wiener didn’t invent the Housing Element but he did pass #SB828 which makes cities zone for more housing.

We have touched on @ABAGSFBayArea 1) housing supply, types, affordability & 2) promoting infill development & socioeconomic equity.

Now what about about
3) jobs:housing relationship? This metric is to address the extreme imbalance so low wage workers don’t have to drive 90 minutes just to work in Berkeley.

From 2010-2015, the Bay Area created 1 home per 6.8 new jobs.

The Climate Protection Act of 2008 (SB375) also directed regions to address greenhouse gases and jobs-housing imbalances.

Objective #4 is to balance disproportionate income distributions. Basically, if you live in a wealthy area, you have to accommodate more low income homes and vice versa.

Nearly all extremely low (100%), very low (100%), and low income (96%) households can’t afford housing.

Also, also high opportunity areas were were assigned more low income homes. To simplify, if there are high home values and high opportunity (jobs, schools etc), a city has to allow more low income people access to their community.

Quick plug for missing middle—ADUs and missing middle housing can provide naturally affordable (non-subsidized) homes. A @TernerHousing analysis showed that 58% of ADU owners rented them at below market rates.

And now to #5. Affirmatively furthering fair housing. We’ve kinda come full circle, huh?

California cities have to proactively address housing inequality and discrimination after the passage of AB686.

https://twitter.com/loridroste/status/1357414461385048065

You can read that embedded tweet thread above but before I go, look at what has happened to Black households in Berkeley since 1990.

There’s a connection here, folks. Yes, it’s complex but but there is a clear correlation between displacement and housing availability.

So, call into our meeting on Thursday if you care. It’s at 6:00 on 3/25.

us02web.zoom.us/j/82133233284

And this thread highlights our proposal. I mistakenly said that the meeting time was at 5:00.

It’s actually at 6:00 on Thursday, 3/25 #berkmtg

https://twitter.com/loridroste/status/1372690544934088704