I quickly read thru pages 1-6 of the report and I really don’t see the same problems coming to fruition that the report talks about. “Newcomers” (or any prospective buyer/renter, for that matter) aren’t “entitled” to live in new construction. Especially in CA coastal counties. It warns that SD companies will pack up and leave if their prospective employees can’t find “affordable” housing. Well, the truth is that SD’s “sunshine tax” will no longer prevail and SD companies will finally be forced to pay their employees a living wage if they want to retain them for any length of time (or retain them at all). It’s about time.
“Affordable” neighborhoods will always be present in SD County, yes even within 20 miles of job centers. Yes, most of these areas have available housing which is 50 to 90 years old and people accepting jobs here will be forced to accept older housing in these “affordable” established areas if they want to move here and those areas are all they can afford. That’s the way its been in SF, SM and SC Counties (on the SF peninsula) for over 15 years now.
The report goes on to say that “boomers” are “hoarding” houses in SD County. Well boomers, seniors AS WELL AS their younger “heirs” all over the state have every right to “hoard” as many houses as their families own. I personally know boomers and seniors who own between 4 and 44 (yeah, I said 44) SFR’s in San Diego County, the vast majority of them rentals. Perhaps most of these (older) houses might not suit the “sensibilities” of entitled millenials and beyond who are attempting a job transfer here from their mcmansion situated on a man-made lake on a prairie in the middle of TX but that’s just too bad. Again, San Diegans don’t owe newcomers a damn thing. Just like the available housing in tiny Milbrae and Burlingame (SM County), SD’s available housing inventory is what it is. I don’t understand why the report is accusing longtime SD residents of “aging in place” as if that is somehow a crime. The current crop of first-time buyers don’t want these boomers’ and seniors’ houses. They don’t even want to rent them! What exactly is the problem, here?
As long as Props 13, 58 and 193 remain on CA’s books as the law of the land, ALL GENERATIONS will continue to “hoard” houses in CA (ESP along the pricey coast) into perpetuity. And why wouldn’t they? A repeal of these laws are the only events that will change the behavior of longtime CA homeowners in this regard.
The report is a lot of fluff and bluster and nothing will ever be done to house these hundreds of thousands of “newcomers” which are “expected” to move here. The (over)building party is over so now prospective buyers/renters have to actually face reality if they wish to move here and remain here. It’s as it should be.
If “newcomers” can’t find housing in SD County that they can afford AND are willing to accept,they won’t move here. It’s that simple (active-duty military personnel excepted). Why is it so hard for so many to envision SD County NOT growing, or growing only a tiny bit (<1%)? What is so wrong with that?
