I worked in the industry for 7 years in California. A big part of it is a race to the "top". If you want to be competitive in winning funding from the 5 or 6 di

I worked in the industry for 7 years in California. A big part of it is a race to the "top". If you want to be competitive in winning funding from the 5 or 6 different state/local/federal programs that need to be cobbled together to build a new project, you have to make all of them happy. That means then highest possible LEED certification, on-site resources like computer labs and childcare facilities, plenty of green space, public art, and of course ample parking. That's all above and beyond that already high standards of CA building codes (which, let's not forget, also includes being earthquake-resistant). Most of the new projects I worked on were very nice. Several had community pools. Most had balconies/patios. Most were well connected to transit (a biggie if you want to be competitive with the funding agencies). Virtually all were mixed income and housed families ranging from below the poverty line to 6-figure incomes. I would have happily lived in most of those complexes if they had been geographically desirable, but most were less urban than I prefer. Though I may still be on the waitlist for one particularly well-located building in SF!