Subject: Lecture from Canada’s Top Zoning Expert this Saturday, Sept. 14, 3 pm at the Noe Valley Ministry
Please note that the DHCA has not taken a position on the new upzoning proposals by the SF Planning Dept. based on state laws.
Message from Neighbors United SF:
As San Francisco contemplates major zoning changes to address housing affordability, we’re looking to Vancouver, BC, which has already implemented a similar upzoning strategy by allowing luxury housing towers in its urban areas. The result? Vancouver now has the most expensive housing in all of North America.
What went wrong, and what can we learn from this?
We invite you to join us for an in-depth discussion on these urgent questions:
Public Lecture & Discussion: “What Happens When We Upzone the City?”
This event will feature Patrick Condon, James Taylor Chair in Landscape and Liveable Environments at the University of British Columbia and former city planner. Condon was once a staunch proponent of upzoning to increase density in Vancouver, a theory embraced by many as a solution to the housing crisis in cities like San Francisco. However, after witnessing the unintended consequences of these policies in Vancouver, Condon’s perspective shifted.
During this discussion, we’ll explore:
- Public Policy: What can empirical evidence from Vancouver teach us about the effects of upzoning?
- Housing Costs: Can increasing supply through luxury towers truly drive down prices, or are we seeing a different outcome?
- Affordability: How will the introduction of market-rate towers in neighborhood shopping districts impact affordability and long-term equity?
This is an important opportunity to learn from Vancouver’s experience before we embark on similar policies in San Francisco. We hope you’ll join us for this critical conversation about our city’s future.
RSVP Here: https://bit.ly/upzonesf
Diamond Heights Community Association 