Arent Fox Bay Area Land News - April 18, 2017
News you can dig.
US/California/Bay Area News
San Francisco Chronicle
Blueprint for Bay Area aims to ‘change the dynamics’ of housing crisis
The only way for the Bay Area to become a relatively affordable place to live again is for cities and counties to be more tolerant of different types of housing, according to the draft of a new regional plan.
To read the full article, click here.
New York Times
Marijuana Goes Industrial in California
Over the past year, dilapidated greenhouses in the Salinas Valley, which were built for cut flower businesses, have been bought up by dozens of marijuana entrepreneurs, who are growing pot among the fields of spinach, strawberries and wine grapes.
To read the full article, click here.
San Francisco Business Times
Why transit ridership is tumbling in the Bay Area
Bay Area public transit agencies experienced a drop in ridership on all fronts. Riders turned to private options, from ride-sharing to company shuttles, to avoid congestion and unreliable transit.
To read the full article, click here. [subscription required]
San Francisco Chronicle
BART spared tough budget decisions by last-minute state help
“What a difference a week makes,” said BART Director Robert Raburn, who was not looking forward to making the proposed cuts. “It looks like we may be able to eliminate service cuts and reduce fare increases that were being discussed. ... This is big news.”
To read the full article, click here.
New York Times
Inside the Hotel Industry’s Plan to Combat Airbnb
In a presentation in November, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, a trade group that counts Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide and Hyatt Hotels as members, said the federal investigation and the New York bill were “notable accomplishments.”
To read the full article, click here.
San Francisco Business Times
Lennar's California megadeveloper spinoff files to go public
The Aliso Viejo-based developer is building the second phase of the San Francisco Shipyard and Candlestick Point, totaling 12,000 homes, as well as the 21,500-home Newhall Ranch project and 9,500-home Great Park Neighborhood in Southern California.
To read the full article, click here.
The Registry
High Speed Rail Authority Solicits Input on Range of Project Alternatives
The California High Speed Rail Authority held another round of community meetings this month in San Francisco, Mountain View and San Mateo to update the public on phase one of the high speed rail project and get feedback about a number of alternatives being considered to maximize effectiveness and minimize environmental impacts.
To read the full article, click here.
San Francisco News
SFGate
Why do SF's new real estate developments look so similar?
Whether you love them or loathe them, large geometric mixed-use residences aren't going anywhere anytime soon, and as even more renderings are released and proposals move through the pipeline, we wanted to know why they all look so similar.
To read the full article, click here.
San Francisco Business Times
Transbay Center picks manager to fill empty retail space as deficit looms
The $2.4 billion Transbay Transit Center has picked a manager to fill the project's 100,000 square feet of retail, a crucial role as it faces a potential multimillion-dollar annual deficit.
To read the full article, click here. [subscription required]
SFGate
Most affordable San Francisco real estate? Richmond District alley listed for $35,000
This might be one of the most puzzling (not to mention affordable) pieces of San Francisco real estate to recently hit the market.
To read the full article, click here.
San Francisco Chronicle
City keeps promise with Hunters View housing project
But in a surprise twist in an exorbitantly expensive city desperate for new housing, this new neighborhood isn’t for the wealthy. It’s the new Hunters View public housing project in Hunters Point, which then-Mayor Gavin Newsom pledged to rebuild one month after he took office in 2004.
Once in a while, government promises are kept.
To read the full article, click here.
San Francisco Business Times
Uber-owned Otto grabs huge chunk of space in San Francisco's Pier 70
Otto is the latest firm to flock to Orton Development's historic rehab of Pier 70 in San Francisco's blooming Dogpatch district.
To read the full article, click here. [subscription required]
SocketSite
Plan to Prohibit Street Parking for a Big Building with a Small Garage
The idea behind San Francisco’s policy of restricting the number of parking spaces allowed to be included within a new development, a policy which has been in place for years, is that by limiting the number of garage spaces, the residents of said buildings without an off-street parking spot will forgo car ownership and reduce congestion in the City.
To read the full article, click here.
SFGate
Homes prices in more affordable S.F. neighborhoods continue to rise, as luxury sales slump
“Generally speaking, the luxury market has cooled more than the more affordable segments, and the luxury condo market has cooled more than the luxury house market.”
To read the full article, click here.
South Bay News
Mercury News
Sunnyvale: New development guidelines place emphasis on ‘village centers’
The Sunnyvale City Council has approved new guidelines that spell out a vision for transportation and the development and appearance of the city through 2035. The plan places an emphasis on the development of “village centers.”
To read the full article, click here.
Mercury News
San Jose: Renter advocates on hunger strike until vote
“It happens all the time,” said Salvador Bustamante, of Latinos United for a New America. “They’ve kicked out thousands of people on the East Side over the years and for no reason. People don’t complain about problems — we’re talking bed bugs, rodents, mold — because they’re afraid they’ll be evicted.”
To read the full article, click here.
Mercury News
Editorial: Santa Clara County marketing plan was really bad marketing
The contract was pulled Tuesday from the board’s “consent calendar,” a long list of items to be approved with a single vote and no public discussion.
To read the full article, click here.
Peninsula News
Palo Alto Online
Facebook to hold five community festivals in Menlo Park this year
Facebook plans to hold five community festivals at its Menlo Park headquarters from May through October that will be free and open to the public.
To read the full article, click here.
Mountain View Voice
Filling the housing market's hole
Mountain View officials are moving full-steam ahead with plans to add thousands of new homes throughout the city, everything from low-income apartments to luxury penthouses.
To read the full article, click here.
The Registry
Construction of the Menlo Gateway Hotel Reaches a Milestone
The Menlo Gateway hotel, named Hotel Nia, has reached a milestone in the construction process. The last and highest steel beam has been put in place for the 196,000 square foot, 11 story, luxury hotel located on Independence Drive.
To read the full article, click here.
Mountain View Voice
District aims to keep neighborhoods intact with new boundaries
After parents and residents said that changing school attendance boundaries could tear their communities apart, Mountain View Whisman school board members on Wednesday night unanimously supported assigning entire neighborhoods to schools throughout the city
To read the full article click here.
The Almanac
County may spend $50 million over two years on affordable housing
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors supports spending at least $30 million over two years in sales tax revenues on affordable housing projects, and may increase that by $20 million.
To read the full article, click here.
Palo Alto Online
Opinion: It's time to set campaign contribution and spending caps
In 2016, candidate leanings across the contentious fault line of development could be generally classified as "Slow" or "Pro." At September's end, the Pros (Greg Tanaka, Liz Kniss, Adrian Fine and Don McDougal) led in contributions, topping out at $47,000.
To read the full article, click here.
Palo Alto Online
New rules on accessory housing spark debate
While housing advocates praise new zone changes, some residents say council rushed the decision.
To read the full article, click here.
The Almanac
Portola Valley: Trust seeks to preserve Hawthorns estate
What is now Portola Valley was home to such estates as Villa Lauriston, established by patent medicine entrepreneur Herbert Law, Catoctin and the Hawthorns.
To read the full article, click here.
Mountain View Voice
City forfeits $1 million in Airbnb taxes
This cottage industry -- now numbering more than 800 listings in Mountain View -- has prospered thanks in part to the city's hands-off approach. For years, city officials have mostly turned a blind eye to short-term rental hosts by declining to update city policies, levy hotel taxes or enforce zoning rules.
To read the full article, click here.
Mercury News
Palo Alto: Paid parking could be a downtown boon, consultants say
There’s a cure for downtown Palo Alto’s parking shortage and traffic congestion, consultants say, and it’s called paid parking.
To read the full article, click here.
East Bay News
San Francisco Business Times
Activists see Uber's Oakland pullback as an opportunity
Speakers at the Greenlining Institute's annual economic summit focused on what community leaders and policymakers can do in the interim to leverage their power and advocate for a more equitable collaboration with business.
To read the full article, click here. [subscription required]
San Francisco Chronicle
Libby Schaaf will seek 2nd term as Oakland mayor
The election isn’t for nearly 19 months, but Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf is already up and running for re-election — with her official announcement set for Monday.
To read the full article, click here.
San Francisco Business Times
Natural-foods grocery store plows through controversy to open new East Bay location
Since the initial development was approved by the city of Albany in 2014, the site has been a point of contention between it, the university and social movement Occupy the Farm — the group opposed to the construction.
To read the full article, click here.