Focus

California legislators propose helping people buy homes in exchange for partial ownership

KQED – June 16

State legislators are proposing to create a billion-dollar fund in this year’s state budget that would provide California’s first-time homebuyers with a full or partial down payment in exchange for partial ownership stakes in those residences. The proposal, put forward by state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, comes as skyrocketing property prices broaden the divide between homeowners and renters in California. The Legislature passed a budget last Monday that includes the proposal, though negotiations with Governor Gavin Newsom continue on a final overall spending plan.

News

In a West Coast first, Menlo Park to electrify 1,000 buildings by 2024

San Francisco Examiner – June 16

Menlo Park announced last Wednesday that it is partnering with BlocPower, a clean-tech startup, to decarbonize buildings by replacing gas-powered furnaces and appliances with more efficient technologies like electric heat pumps and solar power to improve air quality and reduce emissions. Menlo Park’s buildings currently account for 40% of its greenhouse gas emissions — a number the city wants to slash by 95% in the coming decade as part of its climate action plan.

Office owners tapped out as historic drought spurs water-reduction needs

Bisnow – June 10

In recent years, as the severity of California’s drought has worsened, property owners have implemented new technology and initiatives to reduce their water usage, sometimes at the behest of state or local governments. But now, the low-hanging fruit has been plucked, leaving more expensive, difficult options on the table as the state contends with its worst drought in 1,200 years. In less dense areas like San Francisco’s East Bay, where landscaping for large office campuses and complexes is often an attractive selling point, landlords and property managers can be expected to loosen the reins of upkeep as the drought continues, according to Allen Matkins partner David Osias, who has experience in a variety of water rights, water supply, and water resource matters. Commercial development in general could even be stifled in some cases, particularly those projects with substantial water demands. “New development of commercial properties in certain areas may cease temporarily due to water supply assessments requiring sufficient supplies, which certain jurisdictions cannot provide. This likely won’t be the case in San Diego and Orange County, given their robust non-State Water Project local supplies. Another anomaly based on local supply is Marin County, which currently has full reservoirs,” Osias said.

Ambitious plan to revitalize Los Angeles River is approved

ENR California – June 16

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a plan to revitalize the Los Angeles River, despite the withdrawn support of several environmental and community groups. The plan is intended to serve as a blueprint to transform the river into a public open space and natural urban habitat over the next quarter-century. The Los Angeles River Master Plan identifies strategies, programs, and project opportunity sites to restore the waterway, and address related housing issues and community impacts.

California holds off on listing western Joshua tree as threatened

Desert Sun – June 16

The western Joshua tree will remain a protected species after the California Fish and Game Commission failed to come to a majority decision last Thursday on whether the iconic plant should be listed under the California Endangered Species Act. High desert cities, construction and real estate trade groups, and renewable energy developers generally oppose the listing, arguing it would stymie development of housing and renewable energy. Conservation groups, scientists, and advocates, however, have argued that listing the tree is integral to protecting the species from climate change, as well as other threats like wildfire and development.

UC Berkeley housing report analyzes impact of SB 9 on 10 cities

Sonoma Index-Tribune – June 15

The language surrounding the housing crisis in California has changed over the past year, from Governor Gavin Newsom declaring “NIMBYism is destroying” the state, to the passage of Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) last September, which all but ended single-family zoning. The University of California, Berkeley, has released a new report analyzing the impact of SB 9 on 10 cities, including Sonoma, and how those cities’ requirements may inhibit the goals of the bill and stymie the creation of housing.

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