Project Summary
Since the passage of Senate Bill 375, the State of California has mandated the coordination of land use and transportation planning in an effort to promote infill development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, housing production continues to fall far short of need, with the state struggling to concentrate new housing developments near transit lines. In addition, neighborhoods located near transit tend to be lower-income, raising concerns about displacement and the potential impacts of new development on housing affordability. This project will analyze the characteristics of neighborhoods surrounding transit station areas (both rail and bus) in the State of California. Using data on the demographic characteristics of affected communities, the real estate characteristics of local properties, and local housing ordinances, the research team will estimate how much development is feasible and at what price point, how many affordable units might be produced via local requirements, and how many renter households may be vulnerable to displacement. This research project is unique in that it will consider the potential for real estate development (i.e., production) in tandem with the concerns of residents (i.e., protection and preservation)—too often, work in this area focuses only on one perspective or the other. The research team will also hold two workshops, one in Southern California and the other in Northern California, with stakeholders representing different sides of the debate. The workshops will be designed to solicit feedback on the analysis, and to generate a discussion about policy approaches that can balance production and protection concerns.
