Building permits aren't the same thing as new buildings, as San Francisco proved once again in 2018.
Adam Brinklow reports that the number of homes built in San Francisco in 2018 fell drastically from the year before, 41 percent, according to the city's newly published Housing Inventory [pdf].
"The number of new units built plunged 41 percent compared to 2017 (which was itself a decline from the previous year)," explains Brinklow. "In all, 'new housing in 2018 totaled over 2,600 units.' While this is 'about the same as the 10-year average net addition of 2,676,' it’s not good news during a housing crisis."
The city authorized more than double that number, and if all of those 6,097 permitted units had been built, it would have represented a gain in new housing compared to 2017.
The number of new affordable units was also down in 2018, to 645 units, or a 56 percent reduction.
The source article includes many more factoids from the report, including how the city and county of San Francisco compared to other counties in the region.
FULL STORY: San Francisco housing construction down 41 percent in 2018
Robotaxi Charging Lots Could Complicate San Francisco Housing Development
Multiple sites slated for housing development are now being turned into charging and storage lots for autonomous vehicles, making housing an unintended victim of the robotaxi revolution.
Whose History Is Being Preserved, Exactly?
As the housing crisis continues, advocates are increasingly wary of historic preservation efforts that serve to perpetuate historic inequities and keep housing costs high.
Battle of the Bay: Oakland Ahead of San Francisco in Housing Construction
Call it a role reversal: Oakland is building far more apartments and housing units than San Francisco—a reversal of the history of development in the Bay Area.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.
Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.
Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service