The Urban Institute has a new research brief out on the local economic benefits of affordable housing, focusing on a case study in Alexandria, VA. Key takeaways: New affordable housing projects in Alexandria increased home values within a one-block radius…
Do “Area Plans” Harm Affordability? The Case for City-Wide Upzonings
Shane Phillips at the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies analyses the relationship between land values and upzoning in a new essay, “Building Up the ‘Zoning Buffer’: Using Broad Upzones to Increase Housing Capacity Without Increasing Land Values.” Phillips…
How Apartment Bans Keep Americans in the Poor House
A new literature review by Federal Reserve staff economists Jia et al (2022) assesses the evidence from the economic costs of reduced migration. In particular, the review adds context to the findings of Hsieh & Moretti (2019) that restrictions on…
LA’s Apartment Bans Promote Segregation – and High Housing Costs
Single-Family Zoning in Greater Los Angeles, a new study by Menendian et al (2022) at UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute, examines new evidence on the relationships between exclusionary zoning, household income, home value, educational attainment, educational performance, and environmental…
Back on track: how California can build transit projects faster – and cheaper
New public transit projects in the United States are constantly over-budget and behind schedule. How can state and local policymakers fix this? A new study by Elkind et al. (2022) at UC Berkeley examines five case studies. Key takeaways: Local…
California YIMBY Statement on Passage of Student CEQA Exemption
State Legislature Acts Fast to Protect Students “Students are not pollution” SACRAMENTO – California YIMBY issued the following statement in response to the State Legislature’s passage of SB 118, a budget trailer bill that exempts student enrollment at the University…
When the Bay Area Plans Public Transit, We Want More for Less
“More for Less,” a new report by Laura Tolkoff at SPUR, highlights important reforms that could make public transit expansion throughout the Bay Area quicker and more cost-effective. Key takeaways: “Big Idea 1” is that the region needs to improve…
Is the Global Urban Housing Shortage Public Policy Enemy #1?
What if the housing shortage was behind Western nations’ most difficult political and social problems today? Such is the compelling argument advanced in a brilliant recent article by Sam Bowman, London YIMBY founder John Myers, and Ben Southwood at Works…
California YIMBY Joins Sen. Scott Wiener to Announce SB 886
SB 886 Will Streamline Student Housing Approvals at UC, Cal State Campuses, Where 5-10% of Students Experience Homelessness “Students represent the future of our state – they are not pollution” SACRAMENTO – Today, California YIMBY joined State Senator Scott Wiener…
It’s Only a Housing Market if You Can Move: Evidence from Helsinki
A new study by researchers in Helsinki confirms prior research showing that new market-rate housing construction can reduce local rents by making it easier for people to move. Key takeaways: Bratu et al. (2021) at the VTT Institute for Economic…