Villaraigosa and Newsom want to build more houses in California than ever before. Experts see the candidates' goal as an (Los Angeles: HOA, neighborhoods)

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by garek007

Exactly. Look at Miami. It's a bit much, but it really seems to be the only solution at this point. Everyone wants to live near the coast and there isn't much land left to build. Couple that with the fact that SFH are more expensive per unit, and you get less out of them than high density. CA could be affordable again with enough high rises. That also could help with Garcetti's goal of getting people out of their cars and into mass transit (assuming work is nearby or on a rail line).

Only if they can afford the high prices which will not go down any due to the demand which is still beyond supply. No developer will build cheaper homes and lose money.

[Peasy973]

Originally Posted by waltchan

We need skyscrapers, not single-story houses. Look at Hong Kong. That's what Los Angeles needs.

Huge difference between those markets and ours. Californians simply don't want huge developments at all costs especially established homeowners. Just one example, years ago LA County was going to upgrade the sewer system in the Malibu area. People thought that those upgrades were going to lead it to developed like a West coast Miami. So the people got together and incorporated the city of Malibu. Now the state, is making those same people remove their septic systems and put in money for the sewer systems at 6-7 figures depending on the property's location. All of this was done in the name of restricting development.

I mean look at Santa Barbara. Same thing restricted development.

[ryanst530]

A big reason people are attracted to areas like OC/LA and Silicon Valley is that these areas are NOT like Chicago, Hong Kong, or NYC. The weather plays an important factor, but also the architecture and space/"openness" of these areas... SFH's prevail, and people who can afford them, prefer them.

I mean who doesn't want a stand alone house with a yard of their own and a clear, unobstructed view of the sky?

A better use of development funds, IMO, would be to focus on California's neglected cities/areas and revitalize them. Make them look nice, market these areas to high end corporations/businesses to create jobs in these areas. People will follow.

[V8 Vega]

They better make the freeways twice as wide as they are now which they wont do. And they better get water down here too. Those tunnels Brown want wont be finished until 30 years from now irf they started now which they aren't doing.

[CaliRestoration]

Originally Posted by waltchan

We need skyscrapers, not single-story houses. Look at Hong Kong. That's what Los Angeles needs.

Doesn't matter. You can build skyscrapers, and the housing units still won't be affordable to the average W2 worker.

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by CaliRestoration

Doesn't matter. You can build skyscrapers, and the housing units still won't be affordable to the average W2 worker.

True . It’s expensive to live in a skyscraper in NYC or Hong Kong too .

Prices are so high now that they would have to go drastically down to be affordable at least based on local wages .

[CaliRestoration]

Originally Posted by jm1982

True . It’s expensive to live in a skyscraper in NYC or Hong Kong too .

Prices are so high now that they would have to go drastically down to be affordable at least based on local wages .

Just think of the upfront cost of building a skyscraper in a city like LA or SF. Think of the regulatory costs. This all needs to get passed to the buyer.

Even if you built a 1,000 unit skyscraper in the middle of SF or LA right now, the price per unit would be over $800,000 + $400/month HOA fees.

What millennial is going to be able to afford that?

[ryanst530]

Originally Posted by CaliRestoration

Just think of the upfront cost of building a skyscraper in a city like LA or SF. Think of the regulatory costs. This all needs to get passed to the buyer.

Even if you built a 1,000 unit skyscraper in the middle of SF or LA right now, the price per unit would be over $800,000 + $400/month HOA fees.

What millennial is going to be able to afford that?

First gen and/or immigrant millennials with wealthy parents.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by ryanst530

First gen and/or immigrant millennials with wealthy parents.

Who if they want and can afford the CA lifestyle, will not want skyscrapers, but single family homes.

[CaliRestoration]

Originally Posted by expatCA

Who if they want and can afford the CA lifestyle, will not want skyscrapers, but single family homes.

Bingo.

Hence, that's why there aren't skyscrapers condos all over the place. The market isn't there (yet).