A relatively few number of new units are being built as a result of new laws aimed at boosting the housing supply.

A spate of California laws aimed at increasing the housing supply have had “limited to no impact,” according to an analysis by advocacy group YIMBY Law.
Despite several new laws that allow new types of residential construction and conversion, a combination of factors — including local opposition from NIMBY groups, high labor costs, and affordability mandates that limit developers’ profits — has kept hew housing production to a minimum, reports Ben Christopher in CALmatters.
Sky high interest rates, chronic shortages of construction workers and high material costs (all of which could be exacerbated by current or expected changes to federal tariff, immigration and fiscal policy) all work to make residential housing development a less appealing financial proposition. Insufficient public funds and expected cuts to federal housing programs may weigh down on the affordable housing sector too.
One exception to the rule: accessory dwelling units are growing in number after the state permitted them, with 28,000 ADU permits issued in 2023. This law, experts say, took about five years of retooling before it became effective. Cities used strategies such as offering pre-approved ADU plans to lower the cost of construction and streamline permitting for homeowners.
FULL STORY: ‘Limited to no impact’: Why a pro-housing group says California’s pro-housing laws aren’t producing more

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.

Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers
Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.

Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action
Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.
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