Housing: It Doesn't Work if You Force It

Last year we noted how some California politicians are

trying to alleviate the housing shortage by forcing communities to accept dense housing near train stations.

SB50 would have removed control of housing development from municipalities, which through zoning regulations and onerous permitting have slowed construction.

SB50 would have eased the development of small- and medium-size apartment and condominium projects by raising height limits, removing density restrictions and reducing parking requirements.

Under the bill, cities could not have blocked residential buildings of at least four or five stories within half a mile of rail stations and ferry terminals, provided they met other local design standards. [The bill] ... would have essentially eliminated single-family zoning in California, except in small coastal communities and areas at high risk of fire.

SB50 was defeated in the State senate on Wednesday. Politically this was a classic blue-on-blue battle between State central planners and the liberal "wealthy suburbs", which don't object to the regulatory State unless it affects them (e.g., building homeless shelters and high-density housing in their communities).

Historical note: eleven years ago the Bay Meadows race track was torn down (photo right). The residential-commercial complex that arose became a prototype for the planners' vision:

the mixed-use project abutting the Hillsdale Caltrain station will comprise more than 1,100 housing units, up to 1.5 million square feet of office space, 90,000 square feet of retail space and 15 acres of parks.

The Bay Meadows prototype has been disappointing in one regard. The apartments and townhouses have been anything but low-cost (current Zillow ad, right).