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This wsj article suggests that Tokyo, a much larger city, has been able to keep housing costs flat by building a much larger supply than most other city: https:
by leptoniscool 7y ago
This wsj article suggests that Tokyo, a much larger city, has been able to keep housing costs flat by building a much larger supply than most other city: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-housing-crisis-in-japan-home-prices-stay-flat-11554210002 https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-housing-crisis-in-japan-ho...
This could work in SF I think, as there's a lot of potential for up-zoning.
On the other hand, the city is surrounded by water, so it doesn't leave a lot of space to expand.
- idlewords 7y agoThere are vast tracts of vacant land in SF, and the whole western half of the penninsula is low-density housing. What Tokyo has that the Bay Area lacks is excellent public transit, and a willingness to build at high density.
- acchow 7y agoTokyo also merged with its Prefecture in 1943. If only the Bay Area cities would amalgamate and solve housing and public transit as a unified force....
- crooked-v 7y agoTokyo also has zoning that generally works on an "up to" basis, rather than prescribing narrow categories. For example, an area zoned for light retail can contain small businesses, but can also contain anything in one of the "lesser" zones, like small apartment buildings or single homes. It's a simple way to let the market build to demand for housing, as well as for upper-story residences or mixed-use business space to be extremely common.