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Why has SF made it nearly impossible to build #MissingMiddle housing-- which you can build with wood, quickly and inexpensively, adding incrementally to existing neighborhoods? https://www.sightline.org/2019/02/13/who-would-live-in-missing-middle-housing-the-middle-class/ /1
40% of SF's housing stock is 40% from 2-19 units, more than half of multifamily housing. Yet, in 2018, only 11% of housing construction was in this range, and 87% more than 20 units. https://default.sfplanning.org/publications_reports/2018_Housing_Inventory.pdf /2
It's not that "the market" demands only high-rise buildings. It's that zoning excludes other options from much of the city, and a lengthy, politicized approvals process has made small developments prohibitive in the remainder. /3
@urbenschneider recently covered the challenges faced by @Scott_Pluta in building 4 units in Corona Heights. /4 https://www.sfweekly.com/news/affordable-housing-in-single-family-neighborhoods/
Earlier this year, a few neighbors and members of the @sfbos tried to stop 4 homes at 1846 Grove St, as described by @samdman95. /5 https://medium.com/yimby/four-homes-four-years-the-saga-to-build-four-homes-at-1846-grove-st-cbfae60133a7
In preventing these homes, SF limits not only the supply of housing, but also the housing options available. Personally, I would prefer to live in walkable #MissingMiddle housing over a single-family home in a car-oriented neighborhood, but these rules make this option scarce. /6
Good news: we may get some reforms in 2021. @myrnamelgar supports procedural reforms & affordable housing in more places. @sfplanning is doing an update. And @Scott_Wiener's #SB10 would make it easy to zone up to 10-plexes.
Stay informed with @sfyimby: https://www.sfyimby.org/#h.rditkoi8ipn1
Stay informed with @sfyimby: https://www.sfyimby.org/#h.rditkoi8ipn1
