1. “Explosive Economic Growth in the San
Francisco Bay Area has Created Significant Job
Growth and Opportunity, but at what Cost?”
By: David Woltering, AICP, MPA
53rd International Making Cities
Livable Conference, Rome, Italy,
June 13-17, 2016

2. Land Area:
-4.4 million acres
Developed Area:
-17.8%
Population:
-7.15 million (2010)
-7.4 million (2016)

5. San Bruno

7. Source: Miyamoto International

8. Source: Silicon Valley Historical Society

10. Jobs and Population
 307,000 new jobs (2010-2013)
 270,000 new residents (2010-2014)
(Significant increases in jobs and population)

11. Jobs Created since 2010 at all Wage Levels
34,000
15,170
109,970
11,020
-150,860
39,170
-45,600
-75,850
88,970
-200,000
-150,000
-100,000
-50,000
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
2001-07 2007-10 2010-13
Job Growth in the Bay Area
High Wage Middle Wage Low Wage

12. Housing Production
2000-2010 – 23,300 units on average annually
2010-2014 – 9,600 units on average annually
(Substantial reduction in housing production since the
Great Recession of 2007-2009)

13. Great Recession Housing Collapse

14. Housing Demand
 700,000 additional housing units for 2,000,000 new
residents between 2010-2040
 23,000 units a year needed to meet projected
demand
(Current housing shortage could get much worse!)

15. Housing Fit
Four household income levels in California:
Very Low (0-50% of Average Median Income (AMI))
Low (51-80% of AMI)
Moderate (81-120% of AMI)
Above Moderate (>120% of AMI)
(Only 25% of housing production goals were met for Very
Low, Low, and Moderate income households, compared to
over 80% for Above Moderate income households during
period of 2007-14)

16. Regional Housing Costs (2010-2014)
 Housing considered affordable if 30% or less of household income
 Rents increased by -
 44% in Santa Clara County
 43% in San Mateo County
 36% in San Francisco County
(Not affordable for 49% of rental households)
 Median sales prices increased by 49% in the overall
nine-county Bay Area
(Not affordable for 32% of owner households)

17. Aspects of Housing Crisis
 Tech Industry Expansion and resulting increases in
jobs and population
 Jobs being created across the full income spectrum
 Impact of Great Recession on housing production
 Housing production goals for Very Low, Low, and
Moderate Income housing are 75% below targets
 Escalating housing costs are making affordable
housing increasingly scarce

29. Housing Challenges
Declining Wages
Global Investment in Housing
Lagging Housing Production
Barriers to Development
Declining Public Resources

30. What are San Francisco Bay Area
Communities Doing to Address the
Housing Crisis?
 Just Cause Eviction Ordinances
 Rent Stabilization Ordinances
 Relocation Assistance Ordinances

31. What could Communities do to Address
the Housing Crisis?
 Public/Private Partnerships
 Social Housing
 Identify and secure permanent funding sources

32. What could Communities do to Address
the Housing Crisis?
 Density
 Streamline permitting processes
 Allow more efficient use of existing housing

33. Lessons Learned!!
 Comprehensive approach needed:
 Supply
 Fit
 Protections
 Transitions
 Adaptable to local needs
 Certainty

34. Needed Attributes for Success
 Creativity
 Innovation
 Entrepreneurship

35. Successes

36. Successes

37. Call to Action!!!
Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship
have been used widely in the region to
generate significant commercial success and
prosperity for some; now, these attributes
need to be used to address the significant
human hardship associated with this housing
crisis to achieve and maintain a San Francisco
Bay Area that is healthy, sustainable and
just for all!!!

38. Thank you!