Issue 548 to

2015: The Year in Urbanism

The Economic Boom Continues

The Bay Area has emerged as one of the most significant economic engines on earth, yet some of the region's policy failures are limiting its ability to add jobs.

The Bay Area has emerged as one of the most significant economic engines on earth. Yet some of our policy failures are limiting the region’s ability to add jobs — and causing terrible problems for its residents. We know that booms and busts are an inevitable part of capitalism, but what do we know about the longer-term fate of the Bay Area innovative economy?
By Jennifer Warburg and Gabriel Metcalf

A Good Year for Housing Reform

Voters took constructive steps to add supply of both market rate and affordable housing, while at the same time rejecting a measure that would have reduced supply.

From SPUR’s perspective, the November 2015 election was pretty close to perfect in terms of housing policy. The voters took constructive steps to add supply of both market rate and affordable housing, while at the same time rejecting a measure that would have reduced supply.
By Sarah Karlinsky

Is Prefab Pretty Fab?

With housing demand higher than ever and construction costs rising, several multifamily developers placed their bets on prefabricated affordable housing.

With housing demand higher than ever and construction costs rising, several multifamily developers placed their bets on prefabricated affordable housing in 2015. Motivated in large part by technology's potential for delivering shorter construction times (and sometimes, lower costs), developers are beginning to use modular construction on numerous projects throughout the Bay Area.
By Yosh Asato