Meredith Still

this is a great thought piece from our friends at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley regarding several policy levers to help scale innovative construction in California. we at Villa were happy to play a small role in helping to contribute to the many great thoughts and recommendations contained in this research. https://lnkd.in/g6p4yNaa

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Developers don't build buildings. I spent years managing mixed-use developments before I saw where the friction comes from. You think you're building with steel and concrete. Then you sit through three meetings watching the architect and the lender talk past each other. The developer holds the only complete picture of how everything connects. The city planner doesn't care about your interest reserve. The lender doesn't understand why zoning variances take six months. You win by translating these different priorities into one timeline that keeps capital flowing. The real job is aligning incentives, timelines, and risk across people who aren’t solving for the same thing.  When that alignment breaks, nothing gets built.

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𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗘𝗤𝗔 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. For decades, CEQA stood as one of the biggest roadblocks to urban infill. Projects stalled, capital sat on the sidelines, and much-needed housing failed to materialize. Now, with statewide CEQA authority rolled back and decision-making pushed down to local municipalities, the landscape shifts dramatically: → Major metros like LA, SF, and San Diego can finally push forward on housing and infrastructure. → Out-of-state developers and investors gain a clearer path into California’s urban markets. → Local governments benefit from new residents, stronger tax bases, and a surge of private capital. Instead of chasing sprawl, this change re-centers growth in the urban core—where density, transit, and services can scale efficiently. To me, this is a long-overdue pivot: one that transforms California from a regulatory bottleneck into a magnet for investment and innovation. A win for development. A win for capital inflows. A win for California’s future. For those building in California today: I’d love to hear how this legislation has shifted your pipeline, timelines, or appetite for deals. Has it changed the way you’re approaching projects on the ground? https://lnkd.in/gbECzHa2  

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SilverSphere Capital is scheduled to close on The Cannery Project, a landmark mixed-use redevelopment in Salem that will deliver 383 residential units and more than 40,000 square feet of retail space along the city’s waterfront. Originally stalled under a previous developer, the project has now been repositioned under SilverSphere Capital’s leadership, with a renewed vision focused on execution, community impact, and long-term economic value. The redevelopment is expected to reactivate one of Salem’s most significant historic sites, creating new housing, retail activity, and renewed public energy in a strategic downtown corridor. The Cannery represents a major step forward in the continued revitalization of Salem’s urban core and waterfront district. https://lnkd.in/gZ33ps2Z

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How To Design Around City-Specific Rules for Small Lot Subdivisions - Los Angeles SB1123 Example On the latest episode of Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing, the best podcast for affordable housing investments hosted by Kent Fai He, Lu Kapreliants, Assoc. AIA and Joseph Snyder explain how developers must design around city specific rules when executing small lot subdivision projects. Using a Los Angeles SB1123 example, they break down how local standards like height, setbacks, access, and fire circulation still shape what can be built. State law sets the framework, but successful projects come from designing intelligently within city constraints from day one. Common questions this video answers: How SB1123 works with local city rules Why design drives feasibility in small lot projects What Los Angeles still controls under SB1123 How architects and engineers coordinate early Why some ministerial projects still fail If you have questions or want to connect with Lu and Joseph, you can reach them via email Lu - lk@designstudiovoid.com Joseph - joseph@riechersengineering.com Please DM any questions or content suggestions to Kent Fai He, affordable housing developer, educator, and host of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments in the United States. Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions. #AffordableHousing #LuKapreliants #JosephSnyder #SB1123 #KentFaiHe #SmallLotSubdivision #LosAngelesHousing #RealEstateDevelopment #UrbanInfill #ZoningRules #SB9 #AffordableHousingPodcast

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