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This is definitely a good point. Let’s think of two scenarios. 1. Stick a lot of affordable housing in building, but math works since the developer can make mo

This is definitely a good point. Let’s think of two scenarios. 1. Stick a lot of affordable housing in building, but math works since the developer can make money selling the high priced units. 2. Increase total housing supply through less restrictive zoning, meaning more developers are building units they plan to sell at list price. Scenario one is only possible if some people are paying too much for housing, and the people that are squeezed the most are the middle class. Scenario two probably means that the poorest group is displaced. New York has been attempting scenario one. I’m not sure if SF has tried to accomplish either route, leading to the worst case scenario.

kradroy 7y ago
#1 can be tricky in SF. If you mix affordable and market rate housing in the same development, there are still "luxury" amenities in the building. The HOA fees are not capped by law and with special assessment fees could possibly exceed a BMR mortgage payment. I'm not familiar with the configuration of all-BMR developments, but I assume there are HOA fees for those as well. This situation can make affordable housing unaffordable. In SF there's no reasonable way to stabilize (let alone bring down) home prices without less restrictive zoning.
- pmart123 7y ago
  I remember in my control engineering classes, my professor would say that the worst buildings to construct in a high earthquake risk area are midrises (~18 stories). I'm not an expert on this matter, but if this is correct, San Francisco has a natural challenge to housing that NYC doesn't have. Building tall is expensive, and building low doesn't create optimal density.
- kjdndisneinj 7y ago
  That's a pretty simple regulatory change to cap HOA fees as a percentage of rent for affordable units though. Obviously the developers will fight this, and the rich tenants will never exercise or swim near poor people, but conceptually it's easy enough to solve.
  - kradroy 7y ago
    Nothing regulation related in SF is "simple". They've known about this issue for years. There are stories every year in the papers about low income individuals and families being squeezed by HOA fees in their "affordable" dwelling. It hasn't been changed. Remember - this is a city where a majority of the population voted to tax business hundreds of millions of dollars to combat homelessness while in the nearly the same breath has protested against building a temporary homeless shelter. I just hope that in 5 years Captain Sisko is able to time travel back to SF ensure the Bell Riots take place. That's the only way homelessness will end in the Bay Area.

kradroy 7y ago

#1 can be tricky in SF. If you mix affordable and market rate housing in the same development, there are still "luxury" amenities in the building. The HOA fees are not capped by law and with special assessment fees could possibly exceed a BMR mortgage payment. I'm not familiar with the configuration of all-BMR developments, but I assume there are HOA fees for those as well. This situation can make affordable housing unaffordable. In SF there's no reasonable way to stabilize (let alone bring down) home prices without less restrictive zoning.

pmart123 7y ago
I remember in my control engineering classes, my professor would say that the worst buildings to construct in a high earthquake risk area are midrises (~18 stories). I'm not an expert on this matter, but if this is correct, San Francisco has a natural challenge to housing that NYC doesn't have. Building tall is expensive, and building low doesn't create optimal density.
kjdndisneinj 7y ago
That's a pretty simple regulatory change to cap HOA fees as a percentage of rent for affordable units though. Obviously the developers will fight this, and the rich tenants will never exercise or swim near poor people, but conceptually it's easy enough to solve.
- kradroy 7y ago
  Nothing regulation related in SF is "simple". They've known about this issue for years. There are stories every year in the papers about low income individuals and families being squeezed by HOA fees in their "affordable" dwelling. It hasn't been changed. Remember - this is a city where a majority of the population voted to tax business hundreds of millions of dollars to combat homelessness while in the nearly the same breath has protested against building a temporary homeless shelter. I just hope that in 5 years Captain Sisko is able to time travel back to SF ensure the Bell Riots take place. That's the only way homelessness will end in the Bay Area.