Beyond the Outer Limits

Yesterday, we commented on the threat to American cities from the spiral of urban flight, declining services, higher taxes, more urban flight, etc. Reihan Salam of the Manhattan Institute elaborates:

As cities grow poorer and less populous, and as public employees come to represent an even larger share of those with meaningful political influence, urban populists may promise to redistribute whatever wealth is left—which in turn will contribute to further outmigration...urban residents aren’t a captive audience. Cities are facing a much more competitive landscape than they were even six months ago. Those that succeed will do so by offering the highest quality of life at a price that won’t cause sticker shock. That is the surest route to maintaining urban communities that are more integrated, prosperous and just—a goal worthy of this moment.

Before the coronavirus San Francisco and Silicon Valley high-paying jobs, coupled with the unavailability of affordable homes, caused developers to test the limits of "super-" commuting by building homes that require a commute of up to two hours one-way.

A Chronicle ad for Chico, which few San Franciscans have even driven through since it's not on Hwy 5.

The COVID-19 recession and civil unrest have prompted home-building beyond the outer limits of a practical commute from San Francisco. An ad section for homes in Chico, nearly three hours away, appeared in the Chronicle last week.

Developers are betting that their cheaper-but-not-cheap-looking product will appeal to first-home buyers who can telecommute from San Francisco.

I'm betting they're right.