Photo above – will former California flower children like Jorma and Creach consider moving to new affordable transit hub apartments, even if there aren't enough parking spots for everyone?
The link below is to “SB79”, California’s newly drafted law which makes it LEGAL to build apartments near transit hubs. Yes . . . you read that right. It was apparently mostly NOT LEGAL before now.
Various citizen groups and home builders have been struggling to get this bill passed since 2017. Senate Bill 79 is the survivor of previous legislative incarnations including SB50, SB287, and AB2097. A variety of special interest groups mobilized to lobby California politicians and prevent transit hub housing over those past 8 years. At one point a pro-EV car group tried to kill the idea by complaining about a “lack of parking”. These newly built apartments will be adjacent to rail stations, let’s recall. This is what happens when opposing special interest groups have different visions of paradise. At least nobody started ranting “Bring me a pistol and 3 round balls – I’m going to shoot everybody I don’t like at all . . .”
This isn’t a done deal yet. Just because the legislature finally signs off doesn’t mean Governor Newsom will. He hasn’t inked it yet, and his “I’m running for president, bwaaah . . .” podcasts don’t seem to have addressed this topic. Who has showered him the with most contributions – the EV crowd or the homebuilding industry?
This does look like a pretty decent solution. So what if the apartment buildings DO possible reach as high as 7 stories? Nobody’s backyard avocado tree is going to get shaded out. Hobbyists with beehives aren’t going to bemoan the loss of wildflowers. The transit hubs are already an asphalt wasteland. In fact, the LACK of a parking spot rule (“one off-street spot for every bedroom”) is actually going to make these units LESS expensive to build.
What could possibly go wrong? Well, this IS California . . . Someone could decide to see if swimming pools, indoor pickleball courts, and a DNA based pet-waste monitoring system are amenities which could command higher monthly rents in the transit hub apartment market. And don’t forget the HOA (homeowner association) fees, on top of the monthly rent. Wildfires will probably not be a top concern.
The real decision point for a lot of people (including me, if I lived there) would be questions like: Is there a supermarket within walking distance, or is this a food wasteland due to unstoppable shoplifting? What dining options will there be, other than grab-and-go fast food for commuters? How many miles to the nearest hospital, which probably is NOT one of the stops on the commuter train route?
This is where The People’s Republic of China screwed up, big time. They built entire new apartment cities, high rise units for tens of thousands of worker bees. But forgot to include markets and other after-work amenities. People refused to live there, even though futuristic bullet trains to real cities were available just steps from their front doors.
I’m just sayin’ . . .
Historic Housing Legislation Passes in California – California YIMBY
California finally cracks the affordable housing code? Maybe . . .
byu/baltimore-aureole ineconomy
Posted by baltimore-aureole