Jurisdictions are moving ahead with implementing programs that will allow tens of thousands of new homes across our region. Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Carlos, Menlo Park, Pacifica, and more have pursued rezonings, in some cases even before receiving certification from HCD. Dozens of acres of land have been set aside for affordable homes, such as the 2.5-acre Ford Field parcel in Portola Valley or the city hall site in Hillsborough. Communities like Belmont and San Mateo have committed to strengthening tenant protections, while others, like Atherton, are leaning heavily into promoting accessory dwelling units.

The next year will bring even more opportunities to support housing through housing elements. HLC will be partnering with regional and statewide groups to provide tools to help local advocates track housing elements. Cities will need help from community members to implement their policy commitments. Several cities that have not yet received certification provide opportunities for ongoing advocacy, including Daly City, Pacifica, Woodside, and more. We’re excited to continue working with jurisdictions across San Mateo County to ensure they are planning for housing that meets the needs of all community members.

In advance of the city council meeting on Monday December 4th in San Mateo, residents mobilized to oppose the Baywood Historic District. During the non-agendized comment portion of the meeting, residents delivered comments to the council, urging them to issue a formal letter opposing the district.  

A refresher: Neighbors in San Mateo’s Baywood neighborhood have submitted an application to become a historic district. Historic districts can impose a number of restrictions on the rights of property owners to renovate their homes or build new housing opportunities. State laws like SB 9 that empower homeowners to build duplexes or ADUs without onerous public approval processes do not apply to historic districts. Furthermore, the city would be enabled to create a local unelected historic commission that could impose arbitrary new rules, ranging from restrictions on the ability to build an accessory dwelling unit for a family member to bans on replacing old single-pane windows with more energy-efficient double-paned ones.

The Baywood neighborhood, which was built in the 1920s and 30s with housing covenants that banned people of color from buying the homes, is today San Mateo’s only Racially Concentrated Area of White Wealth, according to the Bay Area Equity Atlas. A historic district in the area would entrench past and present segregation in perpetuity.

Neighbors opposing the district have created a petition to urge the city council to formally oppose the historic district. They’ve also created a website for interested residents to learn more. All San Mateo residents are welcome to sign to demonstrate that the community supports preserving real history, not segregation.

Last week, South San Francisco became the third city in San Mateo County to achieve housing element certification! A number of significant policies helped the city achieve compliance, including commitments to pursue:

• Widespread rezoning for affordable and market-rate homes, allowing up to 120 du/ac in some areas. 
• Publicly owned land for affordable homes
• Tenant protections to prevent displacement of our county’s most vulnerable residents

Map of areas slated for rezoning through South San Francisco’s housing element.

South San Francisco also commits to dedicate commercial linkage fee revenue for affordable homes; remove myriad zoning constraints to housing production; and speed up entitlement timelines for affordable homes. Fundamentally, the policies in SSF’s housing element earned the city certification by demonstrating a meaningful commitment to promote affordable homes 

Across the Bay Area, more than 50% of cities have now received housing element certification; in San Mateo County, just 3 of our 21 jurisdictions have completed the process. HLC continues to support the efforts of local jurisdictions to achieve compliance with comment letters and policy advice. 

Why it needs our support

These 555 affordable homes in Daly City would be the largest affordable housing proposal in San Mateo County, in years! It would revitalize the area and provide a suitable place to call home for hundreds of individuals and families at a variety of sizes and affordability levels.

To learn more about the proposal, click here.

How you can help:

Join our membership! Or sign up for our email list to get notifications for when this project will be discussed at Planning Commission and City Council

If you have any questions or would like to know how to support the proposal, please email: amelendrez@hlcsmc.org

Why it needs our support

Land is scarce in Daly City and this proposal maximizes the potential of the land by providing as many affordable homes, close to transit. The more homes we can build, the more neighbors and diversity we’ll have, the better off we’ll be, as a community. The proposal also provides some of the deepest levels of affordability available, including low, very low and extremely low income homes. By providing these 72 affordable homes, Daly City can continue to be a diverse and inclusive community!

How you can help

Join our membership! Or sign up for our email list to get notifications for when this project will be discussed at Planning Commission and City Council

If you have any questions or would like to know how to support the proposal, please email: amelendrez@hlcsmc.org

You can also send an email of support to the City Council: Click here for a template email.

Update

Approved! The Daly City City Council approved the 72 deeply affordable homes on February 24th, 2020!

Why it needs our support

These 48 affordable homes, 287 market-rate homes in Menlo Park are needed to help combat displacement and provide homes to the many workers in Menlo Park. It is located specifically near a high proportion of jobs on underutilized land. Especially with land scarcity, the opportunity to repurposed industrial and commercial space to provide homes for people is unique!

To learn more about the proposal, click here.

How to help

Join our membership! Or sign up for our email list to get notifications for when this project will be discussed at Planning Commission and City Council

If you have any questions or would like to know how to support the proposal, please email: amelendrez@hlcsmc.org

Why it Needs Our Support

These 483 homes are within walking and biking distance to Facebook and other job clusters. A portion of these homes will also be for-sale. 72 of the rental and for-sale homes will be at an affordable rate. This proposal is critical to providing homes near jobs and combating the jobs-housing imbalance in Menlo Park. By supporting this proposal, displacement among existing residents can be prevented while providing homes to those already contributing to Menlo Park. 

How to Help

Join our membership! Or sign up for our email list to get notifications for when this project will be discussed at Planning Commission and City Council