The U.S. Supreme Court turned away a legal challenge to a San Jose affordable housing law brought by the housing industry.
The law requires housing developers to include below-market priced units for low-income buyers on any new housing projects in the city. In its appeal, the industry argued that the law violates federal constitutional protections against the taking of private property.
The California Supreme Court, in June upheld the law, and this decision now stands. In the written decision, one state justice said, "These [affordable housing] problems have become more and more severe and have reached what may be described as epic proportions in many of the state's localities."
The League of California Cities and California State Association of Counties says that about 170 local governments have put versions of the law in place. Developers argued that such laws will force them to pass along the cost of subsidizing below-market units to new homebuyers.
Related Stories
| Mar 30, 2012
Chicago may allow people to live in retail spaces
The Chicago City Council’s Zoning Committee approved a zoning change that will allow up to 50% of work space in low-intensity business districts to be used for living space.
| Mar 30, 2012
LEED growing fast in the housing rental market
Last year, developers of 23,000 U.S. multifamily housing units applied for LEED certification.
| Mar 30, 2012
Forest Stewardship Council critical of proposed LEED 2012 changes
According to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the third draft of LEED 2012, if approved as written, would represent a step backward from the current Certified Wood Credit.
| Mar 22, 2012
Symposium on water efficiency: How much more water can be saved?
The Third International Emerging Technology Symposium by IAPMO and the World Plumbing Council features a session on water efficiency.
| Mar 22, 2012
Broker doesn’t have to inform contractor that insurer went broke, California court rules
A California appellate court ruled that an insurance broker did not have a duty to inform a subcontractor that a project’s insurer had gone bankrupt.
| Mar 22, 2012
Public agencies shouldn’t negotiate project labor agreements, says AGC official
When a public agency rather than the contractor negotiates a PLA with unions, it interferes with the right of employers and workers to reach their own agreements on working conditions and benefits, says Steve Isenhart, president of the Associated General Contractors of Washington.
| Mar 22, 2012
Proposed rule would let crane operators get licenses without prior city experience
The Bloomberg administration is considering letting operators of giant tower cranes get their license without requiring that they first run cranes as apprentices in the city for three years.
| Mar 22, 2012
Bill would reintroduce “opt-out” provision in lead paint law
The Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2012 (S2148) would restore the "Opt-Out" provision removed from the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead Renovate, Repair and Painting (LRRP) rule in April 2010.
