Everyone needs a home. Especially in the San Francisco Bay Area.

• Housing is foundational for physical health, mental well being, social cohesion.

• Housing is critical for kids to achieve educational outcomes

• Housing is a baseline for economic prosperity

• Housing is a precondition for good community health 

• Without stable, economically attainable housing for all ages, we prevent existing and future generations from realizing their potential

 

Yet for decades, especially in California, we have made it increasingly difficult to build the homes our communities need.  Low supply means high housing prices. Since I graduated college 25+ years ago, the median home price in my very desirable college town has quadrupled from $750,000 to $3 million!  In the 20 years since I graduated from architecture school, housing has become more complex and expensive to construct, from $250/sf to $500+/sf.

But it doesn't have to be this way.  50-60 years ago, our communities added homes that were naturally walkable, transit oriented, mixed income, mixed-sizes. Duplexes, quadplexes, town homes, row homes, cottage clusters all mingled happily next to single family buildings.  I live on a block and neighborhood with this mix of housing, and it is the best lifestyle!  To allow more people to achieve this lifestyle, we can and must change our rules and processes to allow more of these homes in our communities.

I'm embarking on a new life chapter to mobilize for more middle housing, re-densify our neighborhoods gently, the way most communities around the world historically housed their people, and still do.  If this mission aligns with your interests and values, let's connect!