A good curb is only as successful as the broader region it operates in, and part of making cities work is ensuring they’re abundant enough for people of all stripes to live in. That’s why it’s been encouraging to see some signs of (slow) progress on the housing crisis as of late; building more homes in productive and sustainable cities means more people can enjoy those resources.
Recent Census data shows housing completions finally picking up in economically productive coastal counties, with many growing their housing stock by nearly 1% in the last year. While this is sadly nothing compared to Southern exurbia, it’s still up from the lousy numbers we saw during the post-pandemic doldrums.
For non-YIMBY readers of this missive, building more housing translates to lower prices in the long run, even if it doesn’t happen as quickly as we’d like. Recent Zumper data (above) shows prices finally underwater nationwide, while the below chart from The FT shows that the more you build… the more your citizens save. (And the rules don’t only apply in the rust belt, Austin prices are now down ~20%.)
Housing abundance isn’t just important for pure socioeconomic reasons, growing our core cities means more people near walkable amenities, public transit and other sustainable city features. New findings from Replica hammer that home, showing how much more people in cities like Boston, SF, Chicago, NYC and LA can take transit to work, or walk to complete a daily errand.
Unfortunately, many cities are in danger of shutting down housing growth right when they’re starting to see the fruits of their labor. Since the state of the year, the City of San Francisco has permitted 16 (not a typo, sixteen) new housing units, after allowing 2,044 in 2022 and 1,136 in 2023. LA is also seeing headwinds, thanks to poorly written initiatives like Measure ULA (can someone explain graduated tax rates to the organizers?) compounded by recent Council actions.
Let’s keep those curbs busy with ever more neighboring residents, and not just idling vehicles!
HOT INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
I’m parkin’ here! StudioWXY has created a new map of NYC’s curbs, highlighting parking restrictions, loading zones, taxi/truck-only areas, and more. The city maintains its own, older maps, but we’ll note this one — which uses open data — is a lot more responsive and easier to navigate.
A return for domestic bike building, or are we just spinning our wheels? America used to have a fairly robust bicycle manufacturing sector, but over the past few decades it’s withered away to basically nothing. Now Senator Blumenauer — D, Oregon — wants to win those jobs back, with a bill that would suspend tariffs on bike components, offer a production tax credit for e-bikes, and offer low interest loans for domestic manufacturers’ capital expenses.
Events updates: Join our friends at Data + Donuts for “Explaining On-Street Residential Parking,” featuring San Francisco’s Residential Parking Policy Manager Raynell Cooper, for a live event on 6/27 in DTLA. Prefer something online? The OMF is hosting “Curb Management for Policymakers,” featuring PBOT Director Millicent Williams and more, on June 26th. Prefer a video replay you can watch anytime? Here I am, discussing “What is the New Right of Way? - Where Digital Impacts the Physical” with Yuval Bar-Zemer, Principal, Linear City Development LLC Panel; Miguel Sangalang, Executive Director & General Manager, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting; Heather Repenning, Executive Officer of Sustainability Policy, LA Metro; Tyler Starrine, Associate Director of Creative Consulting, BMW Designworks; and Jarvis Murray, Commercial Rideshare and Mobility Administrator, LADOT; the video was recorded at the lovely VerdeXchange 2024.
Music city curbs: Nashville is looking to cut down on downtown curb congestion, thanks to a new smart loading zone program run by Automotus. The state is also looking to crack down on predatory truck booting and towing — ouch!
Happy bikes: Getting delivery workers onto low-cost, sustainable ebikes is such an obvious win-win! Congrats to the Whizz team on their latest fundraise; hear what CEO Mike Peregudov has in mind for expansion plans over at Modern Delivery.
Sad bikes: Pour one out for Llama, formerly Urb-E, which recently announced it’s shuttering. It’s amazing how many innovations came out of one small company, first its aerospace inspired, consumer-oriented folding bikes, and then a clever pivot to cargo hauling. Here’s to fighting the good fight!
A few good links: Intercity bus operator Coach USA files for reorganization. AB5 found constitutional, may portend more legal headaches for gig platforms. Waymo hits pole. Grubhub partners with Starbucks. DoorDash announces more alcohol delivery partners. Tesla shareholders sue Musk over decision to start competitive AI company.
- Jonah Bliss & The Curbivore Crew