San Francisco voters recently approved a ballot measure that will require residential developments of 25 units or more to include 25% affordable units, up from the current requirement of 12%.
Proponents of the new law are hoping it will be a step forward in the effort to provide enough affordable housing in a city with some of the highest home prices and rents in the country. A grandfathering provision allows developers with completed applications to take advantage of a lower requirement depending on the date applications were approved.
Critics charged that the measure will actually reduce affordable housing because the costs of compliance would be too high to make larger projects financially possible, and developers would now focus on projects with less than 25 units. A recent San Francisco Bay Area Council survey determined that more than 33% of the Bay Area's residents are considering leaving the area due to housing costs, lengthy commuting times and the increasing cost of living.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Sep 24, 2018
Topsy-turvy: Creative use of air rights results in a model of urban luxury design
Using bold cantilevering and imaginative structural design, ODA and its project team created a 12-story building whose massing grows in width as it steps upward.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 21, 2018
A place of ‘voluntary and cheerful resort’
A project team soldiers on in the wake of a nightmarish turn of events.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 19, 2018
Multifamily market trends 2018: What the experts are saying
The growth of keyless entry solutions and demand for oversized units are among the trends and ideas shared at Marcus & Millichap’s 2018 Multifamily Forum in Chicago.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 29, 2018
Brighton Marine is the largest veterans’ development constructed in Boston since World War II
The Architectural Team designed the project.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 27, 2018
5 noteworthy multifamily projects: summer 2018 edition
The 5 buildings highlight MFDC's summer issue noteworthy projects section.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 20, 2018
$53 million Chamberlain apartments will comprise six buildings, three new and three renovated
The project’s groundbreaking was held on July 19.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 17, 2018
Sound advice on multifamily construction
Four leading experts tell how to ensure your next multifamily project achieves acoustic privacy.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 15, 2018
Memphis construction: Can this city become the next Austin?
One local design firm is trying to make it happen.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 8, 2018
Flyin' high: Humphreys & Partners Architects keeps soaring to new heights
HPA, which reported $78.2 million in multifamily design fees in 2017, ranks as the nation’s largest multifamily design firm.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 7, 2018
Even after redevelopment, the iconic 'Chicago Tribune' sign will remain at 435 N. Michigan Ave.
The newspaper and the building's new owners reached a settlement.