CP&DR

Court Rejects In-Lieu Housing Fee Methodology

Mar 30, 2009

Housing, Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, San Joaquin County, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

The City of Patterson's in-lieu affordable housing fee has been invalidated by the Fifth District Court of Appeal, which rejected the city's methodology for setting the fee. Homebuilders celebrated the decision as a victory in their long fight to constrain development fees, while affordable housing advocates and municipal attorneys described the ruling as limited.

Uptown Oakland Plan More Interesting Than You Think

Feb 3, 2009

Alameda County, Housing, Morris Newman, Oakland, Places, Vol. 24 No. 02 Feb 2009

Initially, the Uptown Oakland plan may not seem that exciting. But look closely, and you'll see heavy use of pleasant courtyard housing, the promise of better street life and close proximity to two BART stations.

Ins And Outs Of Affordable Residential Development

Jan 5, 2009

Housing, Paul Shigley, Redevelopment Watch, Vol. 24 No. 01 Jan 2009

The development of affordable housing is inherently difficult. Projects typically require multiple funding sources, face neighborhood opposition, and are closely watched by both skeptics and state housing officials.

Yet California's need for additional affordable housing is undeniable, despite the crash in real estate prices. So CP&DR shares this look at three different projects to offer lessons for anyone involved in providing housing affordable to people of modest means: a crime-ridden, market-rate condominium complex that the Rialto Redevelopment Agency rehabilitated as affordable apartments; a new, eye-catching project in an industrial part of San Jose that serves 218 households making less than half of median income; and a project in Contra Costa County that overcame what appeared to be imminent failure.

Riverside Stretches Federal Foreclosure Aid

Dec 31, 2008

Housing, Innovations, Morris Newman, Riverside County, Vol. 23 No. 01 Jan 2008

The City of Riverside's plan for spending $6 million in federal aid for foreclosures promises participation in nearly every category of rescue listed by the the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including rehabilitation, readying properties for sale to homeowners, and even demolishing properties that are too far gone and selling the land to Habitat for Humanity, the volunteer home building group.

Housing Market Sinks To New Depths

Nov 3, 2008

California, Housing, Paul Shigley, Vol. 23 No. 11 Nov 2008

The housing market slide that began during late 2006 and picked up speed in 2007 has become a full-fledged disaster in 2008. Housing starts are at their lowest level since anyone started keeping track, and prices continue to fall. Neither developers nor lenders are willing to start new projects, and analysts say the market may not turn around for at least three or four years.

Federal Housing Funds For California May Have Limited Impact

Sep 5, 2008

California, Housing, Insight, Vol. 23 No. 09 Sep 2008, William Fulton

The state and federal governments are throwing a lot of "new money" at the housing market in hopes of stabilizing prices and bailing out subprime mortgage borrowers. For California alone, the total looks to be several hundred million dollars – at least – in the next year alone. But is that anywhere near enough to make a dent in the problem?

Pleasanton Housing Element Lawsuit May Proceed

Aug 28, 2008

Alameda County, Housing, Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, Vol. 23 No. 09 Sep 2008

A lawsuit challenging the City of Pleasanton's housing policies has been reinstated by the First District Court of Appeal after a trial court judge had ruled the lawsuit was filed too late. The unanimous three-judge appellate panel determined the statute of limitations for the lawsuit had not expired. The court concluded housing advocates had at least three years to sue the city.

After 8 Years, Second Unit Ordinance Case May Conclude

Jul 22, 2008

CP&DR Staff, Housing, Legal Digest, Santa Cruz County, Vol. 23 No. 08 Aug 2008

A case involving Santa Cruz County's second unit ordinance has been returned to the Sixth District Court of Appeal by the state Supreme Court because the county has amended the ordinance.

The county has asked the court to dismiss the case entirely because the county has eliminated the ordinance provisions in question, Deputy County Counsel Dwight Herr said. Those provisions dictate rent levels and who may occupy a second unit.

Slammed By Market Downturn, Exurbs May Not Rebound Quickly

Jun 25, 2008

California, Housing, Insight, Vol. 23 No. 07 Jul 2008, William Fulton

Are the exurbs dead?

You'd think so, based on all the publicity about plummeting home prices in California – and the rapidly increasing price of gasoline. In the short run, it is probably true that we'll see big housing price drops in the exurbs and construction will stop almost completely.

Housing Market Stalls, Evolves At Same Time

Jan 29, 2008

California, CP&DR Staff, Featured Articles, Housing, Vol. 23 No. 02 Feb 2008

The California housing market crashed during 2007, and only true optimists and a handful of industry groups predict a turnaround this year. The halcyon days of the housing boom already seem like a long ways away.

But while the downturn has reached nearly every corner of the state, some markets are stronger than others. In particular, exurban markets are weak, while urban markets focused on infill development are relatively strong.