Santa Clara County Housing Digest

What happens when voters take to the ballot to thumb their nose at state housing law? Courts haven’t offered a clear answer.

California Forever’s announcement July 22 that it has decided to pull a ballot measure that would have let voters decide on a controversial planned city in rural Solano County drew swift reaction from political leaders and opponents.

On July 22, California Forever announced it was withdrawing its initiative to amend the Solano County General Plan off the November ballot and would instead begin working with the county through the normal, though less expeditious, process.

The 102-unit Sango Court affordable housing complex in Milpitas offers 102 apartments for people transitioning out of homelessness.

The so-called " builder's remedy" was applied to the Creekside Inn project in Barron Park, updating the proposal to include 231 housing units and a new 135-room hotel.

Cupertino and Vallco developers have reached an agreement over fees associated with The Rise housing development.

Taking advantage of new state funds, some California healthcare providers are starting to offer what their homeless patients really need: housing.

To meet its state mandated housing element obligations, the Saratoga City Council approved changes to zoning in its July 3 meeting.

A request by the developer of the 90-unit all-affordable housing project on Distel Circle to reduce parking requirements was approved by the Los Altos City Council.

A seven-story housing development has been proposed for an under 2-acre site on Los Gatos Boulevard, but will require the demolition of a longtime community fixture.

Online rental site RentCafe released a report indicating 12 people compete for every listed rental in the Silicon Valley area.

Following an increase in homeowner insurance rates earlier this year, State Farm is seeking regulator approval to raise rates again for 1.2 million California home insurance policy holders.

A 15-story 220-unit affordable housing project is being proposed for development on South Market Street in downtown San Jose.

A push to bolster housing production in California's coastal communities in recent years has led to heated battles over potential state reforms. Below, a veteran elected official believes the debate has created a false choice between housing and protections. The opposing view: A former attorney for the Coastal Commission says the state Coastal Act has failed to deliver on what it envisioned.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved contributing $10 million in funding for a proposed housing development of 100% affordable units in Los Altos.

On June 19, California YIMBY announced support for the California Forever project going to the Solano County ballot in November.

Local real estate development company Lakeside Community shared feedback collected over several sessions expressing local resident input about desired uses for the 114-acre former golf course.

The San Jose City Council approved a new land-use category to protect the 58 mobile home parks and tens of thousands of residents in the city from future displacement.

A proposed new housing development of 25 single-family homes on a 72.45 acre site on Pierce Road has raised concerns from local residents about traffic and blocked wildfire evacuation routes.

A recent court ruling exempted five charter cities from a controversial housing law. That’s given anti-density advocates across California an idea.

The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury released a report finding the county Housing Authority at fault for a $16.2 million loss over two years in a failed office building deal.

On June 12, a pre-application was submitted by philanthropic organization Emerson Collective for a 300-unit affordable housing mixed-use development in East Palo Alto.

Tens of thousands of California homeowners, especially those who live in areas at risk of wildfires, have lost their insurance or have to pay more to keep coverage. One after another, major companies have pulled out of the state, many citing the cost of claims.

Effective July 18, ADUs may be sold as condominiums separate from the homes to which they are attached in San Jose.

On June 11, Solano County elections officials announced the verification of necessary signatures for the California Forever sponsored initiative to amend the county General Plan to be on the November ballot.

A panel at the CalMatters Ideas Festival debates how to reduce homelessness without punishing poverty. There’s worry about a potential $1 billion cut in state funding.

On June 6, the Solano Land Trust announced its opposition to the California Forever project to build a new community housing up to 400,000 people in the county.

An economic mobility report released on May 30 detailed economic and housing inequalities in Morgan Hill.

These community projects can give renters and low-income homeowners a chance to go solar, but the PUC’s action is unlikely to give them the option.

Site preparation for a mixed-use development of retail and offices and 2400 units of house is set to commence at the site of the former Vallco Shopping Mall in Cupertino.

The City of Milpitas is expediting permitting for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) through use of pre-approved plans.

A proposal to bulldoze the historic Burbank Theater on South Bascom Avenue in San Jose to build 62 units of housing is causing concern among preservationists.