In his January 15 state of the city address, San Diego’s mayor Kevin Faulkner proposed to increase building heights and housing density and reduce parking requirements in transit-intensive areas — notably along the $2.1 billion Mid-Coast Trolley Extension from Old Town through Claremont and University City to UCSD. Below are excerpts of expert reaction published Sunday.
UT-Economists
Do You Think the Mayor’s Housing Plan Will Work?
San Diego Union-Tribune, January 27, 2019, p. 2
David Ely, Economist, San Diego State University
YES: Eliminating restrictions on building height and parking in some areas of the city will allow for more units to be profitably built so these steps could contribute toward easing the housing shortage. Unfortunately, the proposed changes are only a partial solution. They will not help expand housing for everyone who does not want to live in high density areas near public transportation or in parts of the county outside the city of San Diego.
Chris Van Gorder, CEO, Scripps Health
NO: I don’t think it will work. Building high density housing without consideration for parking needs would require both a culture of using mass transit along with readily available mass transit and we have neither. This might work in just a few areas like downtown but could not be used in most locations without negative results. The mayor’s plan is commendable in its intent, but perhaps too audacious.
Save South O 