But San Francisco Bay island project faces a very different market than it would have a few years ago.

In the wake of the pandemic, some California downtowns are stronger than ever. Others resemble the walking dead. Both scenarios have inspired planners to get creative.  

The affluent San Gabriel Valley city has asserted that late passage of its housing element might protect the city from the builder's remedy, even without HCD approval (which could come soon). But a pending project may be permitted to move forward.

Amazingly, most bills targeting local governments' land use control over housing are still alive as the legislative session progresses.

Transit ridership may be down -- but transit-oriented development is still moving forward in response to both market forces and the state's policy priorities.

Most developers have been trying to get their projects approved for years. Some are adding multifamily affordable units to single-family projects in order to qualify.

Or is one Huntington Beach City Councilmember's attempt to decertify the Beach and Edinger Specific Plan EIR simply a sideways attempt to repeal the plan?

Only two jurisdictions are considering implementing the law so far -- the City of San Diego and Humboldt County. But others may have to use SB 10 in order to implement their housing elements >> read more

Especially in the Bay Area, cities are beginning to tax vacant units and vacant land in an attempt to bring more housing onto the market.

Even as cities strain under the weight of new housing regulations, legislators are trying new ideas and resurrecting old ones.

Both cities claim that their Housing Elements are compliant, even though HCD has not yet approved them. Sonoma also claimed an apartment proposals application was deficient.

Five of the 12 Bay Area jurisdictions sued over non-compliant housing elements are in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Meanwhile, Builder's Remedy applications begin to pop up. 

San Diego County's major suburban transit district is getting in on transit-oriented development -- in some cities that are historically wary of housing.

Coming just days after the region's RHNA deadline the lawsuits suggest pitched battle ahead over the Bay Area's housing targets -- and maybe even a Builder's Remedy battle or two.