California’s legislature just approved a sweeping housing bill that overrides many local zoning rules, allowing construction of multi-story housing (up to nine stories) around major transit hubs like BART or LA Metro. Supporters argue it’s the kind of bold move needed to ease California’s housing shortage. Local restrictions in many single-family zones prevented denser, more affordable housing near public transit. This law seeks to cut through those barriers. Critics worry it’s too much too soon. Some say neighborhoods lose their character. Others worry about infrastructure strain—parking, schools, traffic. There’s also concern that local control is being undercut. Implementation will be key. Building near transit hubs is great on paper, but costs (land, labor, materials), community buy-in, and supportive services will affect if these developments actually happen. Also, even with the law, existing measures like environmental impact, height limits elsewhere, and financing issues remain hurdles. For cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and others where transit is strong but housing supply is weak, this could mark a turning point. If things go well, more dense housing near transit means less driving, more walkable neighborhoods, and maybe more affordable options for people who currently can’t afford to live close to where they work.

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