The tech industry giant answers a call to do more to help alleviate housing prices in the region it calls home by promising to build tens of thousands of units on its own land.
"Google on Tuesday announced a stunning $1 billion commitment to ease the Bay Area’s housing crisis, pledging to add about 20,000 homes across the region," reports George Avalos. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the new initiative in a blog post.
"It is the largest single commitment from a tech company to fight the housing shortage that threatens to stall the economic engine of Silicon Valley," according to Avalos.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo released a statement to express support for the initiative, saying the city would work with Google "to ensure today’s announcement manifests itself into housing that will benefit thousands of San Jose residents struggling under the burden of high rents."
Avalos reports that Google plans to spend $750 million of that total on housing on land it owns. The other $250 million will be set aside for an "investment fund that will enable developers to build at least 5,000 affordable housing units across the region."
The announcement follows a recent report by Working Partnerships USA, "a labor-backed organization focused on addressing inequality and poverty in Silicon Valley," that expresses concerns that Google's expansions in San Jose would trigger gentrification and displacement.
Google's announcement might have the largest dollar figure attached to its housing commitment, but it's not the first to promise a large financial commitment to mitigating the regional housing crisis. In January, a group of tech industry companies and philanthropic foundations announced the "Partnership for the Bay's Future," and a promise to spend $500 million to mitigate the housing affordability crisis in the region.
FULL STORY: Google pledges $1 billion to ease Bay Area housing crisis
Google's Decade of Land Acquisition Cresting During the Pandemic
According to reports, Google parent company Alphabet is pulling back on two massive land acquisition deals amidst the economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. A development approval setback will also slow the company's expansion.
California's Housing Crisis—No End in Sight
This past year looked promising in terms of opportunities to tackle the state’s housing woes. But most measures failed and the problem is just growing.
Appetite for ADUs Rises in San Jose
San Jose has issued a steadily-rising number of ADU permits in recent years. Now, Mayor Sam Liccardo has implemented measures to ease the process for homeowners who want to build granny flats.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing
The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.
Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks
Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.
Forest Service Rescinds Tree Planting Grants
The $75 million program fell victim to the federal government’s purge of ‘DEI’-related projects.
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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research