Focus

Biden administration approves $250M for energy efficiency upgrades in homes and businesses

The Hill – November 15

The Biden administration announced that it will allocate $250 million in formula funding for energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits of commercial and residential buildings. The U.S. Department of Energy will be accepting applications for these resources through an initiative of the recent bipartisan infrastructure law. States and territories will be able to use grants to establish what is known as “revolving loan funds” — or pools of capital from which loans can be made for clean energy projects, according to the Energy Department. Governments can then use these revolving loan funds to invest in energy audits, energy efficiency upgrades, and retrofits of residential and commercial buildings.

News

Competing measures to speed up S.F. housing construction both fail

San Francisco Chronicle – November 15

Proposition D and Proposition E, two ballot measures aiming to speed up housing construction in San Francisco, where residential projects can take years to plan and develop, both fell short as voters struggled to reconcile the competing proposals. Both propositions would have quickened the development process for various types of real estate projects, with the goal of helping San Francisco build the housing it sorely needs. San Francisco must build about 82,000 housing units by 2030 or it could lose state funding.

California appellate court upholds county’s traffic mitigation fee

Allen Matkins – November 9

California’s Court of Appeal for the Third District recently held that El Dorado County’s imposition of a Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee as a condition of approval for a residential building permit was valid under the California Mitigation Fee Act and did not violate the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment (Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, No. C093682, 3d. District, October 19, 2022). In reaching its decision, the court reiterated longstanding California judicial authority establishing that local agencies may impose impact fees to offset the impacts of new development under the Mitigation Fee Act.

Los Angeles leads nation in apartment conversions

The Real Deal – November 15

Los Angeles has led the nation this year in apartment conversions, setting a record for adaptive reuse of other types of buildings, Rentcafe reported, citing data from sister company Yardi Matrix. Amid an ever-growing need for housing, adaptive reuse picked up speed in the nation’s largest cities, according to Yardi Matrix, which ranked Los Angeles as the national leader with 1,242 unit conversions from January through June. Los Angeles also leads in pending conversions, with 4,130 apartments either expected to soon be opened or in the project pipeline.

Marin County mandates all-electric new residential and commercial construction

The Mercury News – November 16

Beginning in 2023, all new residential and commercial construction in Marin must be all electric. Marin County supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve an ordinance mandating the change effective Jan. 1. The supervisors voiced support for the move in October. The ordinance also includes provisions designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of natural gas. These include tougher energy efficiency requirements for additions, alterations, and remodels, and increased access to electric vehicle charging stations for people living in multifamily housing.

Palo Alto releases plan to add more than 6,000 dwellings

Palo Alto Weekly – November 10

Palo Alto last Monday released its plan for adding more than 6,000 dwellings by 2031, a strategy that banks on backyard cottages, transit corridors, and the conversion of industrial zones in the south end of the city into residential communities. The city’s Housing Element, which is now going through a 30-day public review period, will ultimately be submitted to the state Department of Housing and Community Development.