Publications
The briefs and reports below provide a sample of recent research by Lewis Center faculty, affiliated scholars, staff, and students, produced internally or by our partner centers and other universities. Learn more about support for students and the Graduate Student Fellows program to fund students conducting capstone research.
Note: Briefs and reports are often adapted from or into published books and articles in academic journals, which are not listed here.
Title | Author(s) | Year |
---|---|---|
ReportA Primer on California's "Builder's Remedy" for Housing-Element NoncomplianceSince 1990, California allows developers of affordable housing projects to bypass zoning codes and general plans of cities out of compliance with the Housing Element Law. Why aren't there more builder's remedy projects? |
Christopher S. Elmendorf | 2022 |
ReportHousing And Community Development In California: An In-Depth Analysis of the Facts, Origins and Trends of Housing and Community Development in CaliforniaThis report provides detailed analysis on where California's housing has been, where it’s at and where it’s headed when it comes to possible scenarios and policy alternatives for the future. |
Shane Phillips, Carolina Reid, Dana Cuff, Kenny Wong | 2022 |
ReportThe Future of Housing and Community Development: A California 100 Report on Policies and Future ScenariosThis report examines where California's housing has been, where it’s at and where it’s headed when it comes to possible scenarios and policy alternatives for the future. |
Shane Phillips, Carolina Reid, Dana Cuff, Kenny Wong | 2022 |
ReportBuilding Up the "Zoning Buffer": Using Broad Upzones to Increase Housing Capacity Without Increasing Land ValuesIn this paper I introduce the concept of the “zoning buffer” — the gap between the existing housing stock and the maximum number of homes allowed by current zoning — and describe how it affects land values and ultimately the production and affordability of housing. |
Shane Phillips | 2022 |
BriefBy Transit, By-Right: Impacts of Housing Development Approval Processes on Transit-Supportive DensityThis brief studies the relationship between transit ridership and the housing development process. Even if new multifamily housing is allowed on a site, a complicated, lengthy or unpredictable process could still discourage its production and thus, transit ridership. |
Michael Manville, Nolan Gray, Shane Phillips, Paavo Monkkonen | 2022 |
BriefRegional Housing Needs Assessment Cover LetterThis review and cover letter was written to provide background and suggestions for Auditors Tilden and Lozano to consider in relation to the audit commissioned by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee at the request of Members Glazer, Newman, Bauer-Kahan, Portantino, Muratsuchi, Stern, and Bates. |
Christopher S. Elmendorf, Paavo Monkkonen | 2022 |
BriefA Review of California's Process for Determining, and Accommodating Regional Housing NeedsThis background paper is meant to help the California State Auditor and legislators better understand the limitations of the RHNA process and areas for improvement. |
Christopher S. Elmendorf, Paavo Monkkonen | 2022 |
ReportWhat Gets Built on Sites That Cities "Make Available" for Housing?In this report, we analyze local plans and housing development rates in nearly 100 cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assess production on sites presented by cities to the state government as apt for housing, as well as elsewhere in the city. |
Christopher S. Elmendorf, Paavo Monkkonen | 2021 |
ReportValue Capture Reconsidered: What if L.A. was Actually Building Too Little?Should cities only allow new housing on the condition that the developers of that housing deliver public benefits in return? This idea is often called “value capture”, and is used to justify — among other things — various forms of inclusionary zoning. |
Michael Manville | 2021 |
ReportHousing Demolition and Redevelopment in Los AngelesThis report examines whether new development in Los Angeles is resulting in the widespread loss, through demolition, of older, more affordable housing units. |
Michael Manville, Shane Phillips | 2021 |