How to retrofit the housing economy
How to retrofit the housing economy
Changing a trillion dollar system is about more than better policy
Bigger Ideas 4 : Where We Go From Here 12
Dear Where We Go From Here Subscribers,
I hope summer has been joyous and restful. I’m happy to share with you part of the fruit’s of my summer’s writing - two paired pieces in Shelterforce which explore how to retrofit the housing economy. Ordinarily, both pieces would come out on this page, but to support Shelterforce, I ask you for one or two more clicks.
The first is an interview with San Francisco developer Charmaine Curtis, a Bay Area housing veteran who’s ideas on transforming the house-building industry are essential. We explore a wide range of topics on how the industry can and should change, from building for a fee (instead of a percentage of profits) to what the industry can do to be more welcoming to women and BIPOC developers - and particularly to BIPOC women.
The second is a piece I have been cooking up for a while - my attempt to get housers focused on transforming the larger housing economy, and not just housing and land use policy. While policy obviously matters - it can be a great tool for changing industries and practices - we can often lose sight of the larger project we have in front of us. In the article I explore important changes to both the capital and development sides of housing, changes that housers are already pushing around the country. It’s essential that housing advocates start to engage more deeply on how our real estate industry needs to change if the housing outcomes we hope for are to have a chance. This is only more true now that serious zoning reform has come to the Golden State.
Both pieces are part of a larger special Shelterforce series on financialization and housing. It’s a great series, with important pieces on slumlords, how landlords use LLCs to hide, federal monetary policy and more. And if you are looking for an explainer on financialization, they got that too.
What’s coming up?
I’m happy to report that I’ve now done 7 of the 12 posts from my inaugural dream list for California housing in 2022!
As September and October are thinking and reading season in Sacramento, I’ll be cranking out a more regular cadence of pieces over the next few months. Stay tuned for the remaining pieces on my 2022 list: Inland California, implementation, megaprojects, housing data infrastructure and a fiscal new deal.
I’ll also be putting out more ‘retrofitting the housing economy’ content, including a feature on three people from different worlds trying to build an equitable fourplex in San Jose. It’s one of the most enjoyable pieces to write in years, and I can’t wait to share it.
If you like what you’re reading, consider telling your networks via LinkedIn, Twitter, or FB/Insta? And I welcome thoughts, feedback and ideas - it’s never too soon to send me ideas for the 2023 wishlist post!
Best, Alex
What I’m reading
ADUs for All: Breaking Down Barriers to Racial and Economic Equity in Accessory Dwelling Unit Construction: ternercenter.berkeley.edu· 1 min
American Real Estate Was a Money Launderer’s Dream. That’s Changing: The New York Times· 7 min
California Churches Want to Build Affordable Housing on Their Land, So Why Is It So Hard?: kqed.org· 11 min
Op-Ed: Seize the downturn: Why California should leverage a recession to build affordable housing: Los Angeles Times· 4 min
California strip mall goes multifamily residential: bdcnetwork.com· 8 min
How Nonprofits Use a Legal Loophole to Flip California Homes — for a Profit: kqed.org· 17 min
Blackstone Single-Family Landlord to Halt Home Purchases in 38 Cities: Bloomberg· 1 min
Partnership for the Bay’s Future ‘Opportunity to Purchase’ playbook opa-playbook.pdf: baysfuture.org
Interest rates worsen housing crisis for working families – time to act: thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org· 3 min
A Brief History Of Drywall Or: How Drywall Came To Dominate The World Of Construction: Hackaday· 4 min