Sponsored link
Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Sponsored link

Why building more market-rate housing can’t possibly solve the city’s crisis

JULY 15, 2014 — Yesterday, we presented Part One of our Housing Video Series, explaining how San Francisco got into this mess. And in Part Two, we show how the “market-based solution” that the mayor and so many others appear to favor — just building and building for-profit market-rate housing — will eventually bring down costs.

Fact: We have abundant empirical data to show that’s just not true. Check out this video and understand why trickle-down housing economics won’t work in San Francisco — and to get a sense of what will.

By the way: If you want an idea of what happens to a city that is enamored of building highrise housing without much limit, check out Vancouver. Once a jewel of the West Coast, it now looks like … Hong Kong.  Or Miami Beach on steroids. And housing prices are still out of reach for many.

You want SF to look like this?
You want SF to look like this?

 

Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond has been a political and investigative reporter in San Francisco for more than 30 years. He spent much of that time as executive editor of the Bay Guardian. He is the founder of 48hills.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Sponsored link

Sponsored link

Latest

With new incarnation, stoner doom metal legends Sleep sail on

Tipping its hat to Rush on 'Hempispheres' LP, the San Jose-rooted outfit now boasts Melvins and Void members.

Inspired by Maren Hassinger’s work, BAMPFA community bonds on paper

Knotting and twisting, Julia Goodman leads workshops that celebrate a luminous living artist.

Best of the Bay 2026 Editors’ Pick: Qu’in de la Noche

The Dark Siren of San Francisco stuns with burlesque production chops—and ability to render calls for justice undeniably hot.

Under the Stars: We almost lost Eli’s Mile High Club

East Bay players weigh in on the jeopardized venue's importance. Plus, BALTHVS psychs out and Perennial sveltes up.

You might also likeRELATED