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A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MISSING MIDDLE TOWNHOME OWNERSHIP ACT

Last week we opened with an item flagging our big win on housing with the Governor’s signature of AB 1751, the Missing Middle Townhome Ownership Act. This week, we want to spike the football a bit by providing some additional context and color about the law.

For a little amuse-bouche, check out this item from Smart Cities Dive, which explains all the cool new housing legislation coming online and how it fits together to (hopefully) help address our housing affordability crisis. We were also excited to see the bill receive an approving nod from the Southern California News Group editorial board.

But for this week’s main event, we’re delighted to share the following interview with NCC board member Jennifer Hernandez, appearing recently on California Insider to talk about the legislation and what it means for California housing. It’s well worth your time, and it explains why we’re so excited:

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<WATCH THE INTERVIEW>

🏃‍♂️ 💨 ✋ FAST FIVE

1. 🏠 “Affordable” housing at market-rate rents. A Chronicle investigation found investors collecting affordable-housing tax breaks on buildings that charge market rents, costing schools and police departments tens of millions of dollars a year. — SF Chronicle
2. 🖥️ The AI capital pulls the plug on data centers. San Francisco and Oakland both paused new data centers this week, and LA County supervisors are weighing a ban in unincorporated areas. — SF Standard / East Bay Times / LA Daily News
3. 🌧️ Batten down the hatches. Forecasters expect a record-strength El Niño to bring a wet, stormy winter, with flood and coastal-erosion risks rising along the coast, and the remnants of Hurricane Rachel are heading for SoCal this weekend. — KQED
4. 📈 California tops $4.5 trillion. New federal data shows California’s economic output has passed $4.5 trillion, so the state remains the world’s fourth-largest economy. — Governor’s Office
5.  🏗️ One staircase, more homes. San Francisco will soon let buildings up to six stories use a single staircase, which cuts construction costs for “missing middle” housing. — SF Chronicle