Housing builders in California cities can now be legally required to include a portion of affordable units in new developments.
The California Supreme Court reached this decision Monday after representatives from the building industry argued that affordable housing mandates could be considered “government confiscation of property,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The court ruled that requiring units priced at below-market rates goes hand-in-hand with regulations on housing size and density.
Cities throughout California have consistently seen higher and higher rents, claiming some of the country’s top slots when it comes to housing costs. This decision comes in light of the housing industry’s challenge against an ordinance in San Jose that’s similar to ones in place in San Francisco, Berkeley, Richmond and other areas that requires at least 15 percent of 20-unit developments to be designated for affordable housing. San Jose is now the largest U.S. city with such a policy.
The Pacific Legal Foundation, representing the housing industry, said it was unhappy with its options as of now, which would include an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Affordable housing advocacy continues to boom, along with rising rents. However, Google’s recent play in Mountain View, which saw the tech company add affordable housing into its community benefits offer attached to a new headquarters project, was rejected by that Silicon Valley city council.
Marielle Mondon is an editor and freelance journalist in Philadelphia. Her work has appeared in Philadelphia City Paper, Wild Magazine, and PolicyMic. She previously reported on communities in Northern Manhattan while earning an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.
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