San Francisco Really Doesn’t Like Expensive Housing Projects, What They’re Doing Next

"Every neighborhood has an incentive to say no to higher-density development because some of the impacts are felt locally. But when you aggregate that at the level of the whole Bay Area, the net effect of each neighborhood saying no is a profound crisis of affordability."

The proposed lawsuit follows a week of protests by housing activists rallying against additional luxury buildings in the city. Last week, neighborhood groups rallied to protest the Hearst and Forest City's massive $5 million project where developers plan to raise a 45-story tower.

The proposed luxury condo sits on zoning designed for buildings 4 to 13 stories tall, but developers are attempting to convince city planners to allow spot zoning changes to zoning regulations, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Meanwhile, residents of the Mission community rallied last week to defeat a high tech hub in the neighborhood. The Redlick Building was built with the promise to provide 25,000-square-feet of usable arts space, but now developers want to cut that in half.

The city also considered a ban on additional high priced luxury buildings in the city. That movement was defeated by the Board of Supervisors, but resident support remains strong.

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]