Chris Elmendorf
@cselmendorf.bsky.social
The law prof at UC Davis. Dad. Denizen of San Francisco. Patron of Amtrak. Tweets are my own, not statements of UC. (he/him)
CA Supreme Court has denied review / depublication of Save Our Access v. City of San Diego.
This means that worst CEQA opinion of the last two decades is binding law on superior court judges statewide.
Leg attention needed!
This means that worst CEQA opinion of the last two decades is binding law on superior court judges statewide.
Leg attention needed!
Relaying a message from the mayor.
January 2, 2026 at 6:59 PM
CA Supreme Court has denied review / depublication of Save Our Access v. City of San Diego.
This means that worst CEQA opinion of the last two decades is binding law on superior court judges statewide.
Leg attention needed!
This means that worst CEQA opinion of the last two decades is binding law on superior court judges statewide.
Leg attention needed!
This is a great question ⤵️. The CA Leg has made existing old, small, and often-unsafe apartment buildings almost impossible to redevelop.
A big mistake.
There's a real need to reconsider & standardize tenant protections, while giving tenants collective agency to authorize redevelopment.
A big mistake.
There's a real need to reconsider & standardize tenant protections, while giving tenants collective agency to authorize redevelopment.
Lots of good stuff here (& some dubious). Thanks for the thread. I have 2 broad questions:
1. The South Bay has THOUSANDS of 2-story multi-unit buildings (standalone & complexes) from the 60s. What is the best use of this land, in your view, and if different, what is the best way to make the shift?
1. The South Bay has THOUSANDS of 2-story multi-unit buildings (standalone & complexes) from the 60s. What is the best use of this land, in your view, and if different, what is the best way to make the shift?
January 1, 2026 at 7:14 PM
This is a great question ⤵️. The CA Leg has made existing old, small, and often-unsafe apartment buildings almost impossible to redevelop.
A big mistake.
There's a real need to reconsider & standardize tenant protections, while giving tenants collective agency to authorize redevelopment.
A big mistake.
There's a real need to reconsider & standardize tenant protections, while giving tenants collective agency to authorize redevelopment.
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
A thread for those interested in housing construction economics & regulation/codes.
Reducing the cost of construction is a job for state legislatures. A 🧵 w/ ideas for California's 2026 legislative session.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20060...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20060...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: "For a typical mid-rise apartment in San José, construction costs can exceed $700k–$900k per unit." I 💯% agree w/ @MattMahanSJ that reducing construction costs should be a top priority f...
threadreaderapp.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:55 PM
A thread for those interested in housing construction economics & regulation/codes.
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
Bingo. Davis Bacon wage rates are determined via surveys sent by DOL to construction projects. Most contractors don't bother to report payroll data unless harassed by local unions.The job sites the unions harass are typically those with subs using union labor or public works projects paying PW.
January 1, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Bingo. Davis Bacon wage rates are determined via surveys sent by DOL to construction projects. Most contractors don't bother to report payroll data unless harassed by local unions.The job sites the unions harass are typically those with subs using union labor or public works projects paying PW.
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
I mean PW came about during New Deal over concerns that as Fed govt was essentially a monopsonistic buyer of cxn labor during Great Depression, Feds would use buying power to lower wages further. The policy argument for having PW is frankly well long since dead.
January 1, 2026 at 1:08 AM
I mean PW came about during New Deal over concerns that as Fed govt was essentially a monopsonistic buyer of cxn labor during Great Depression, Feds would use buying power to lower wages further. The policy argument for having PW is frankly well long since dead.
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
Prof. Elmendorf's thread reminds me of the time when a Palo Alto homeowner wanted to hire me to find fault with the environmental assessment for this affordable housing project. He and his attorney were perfectly ready to pay me $300/hour for this work. 🧵
site.robquigley.com/project/alma/
site.robquigley.com/project/alma/
January 1, 2026 at 4:15 AM
Prof. Elmendorf's thread reminds me of the time when a Palo Alto homeowner wanted to hire me to find fault with the environmental assessment for this affordable housing project. He and his attorney were perfectly ready to pay me $300/hour for this work. 🧵
site.robquigley.com/project/alma/
site.robquigley.com/project/alma/
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
I was very proud to lobby this bill on behalf of the Bay Area Council! This is the huge win we hoped it would be
🧵 on a big new CA Court of Appeal decision that's going to make CEQA attorneys think twice when they're next asked to challenge a housing approval on contingency.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: New decision from CA Court of Appeal on the fee-shifting provisions of AB 1633 has big implications for NIMBYs' incentive to challenge housing approvals under CEQA & beyond. This one bel...
threadreaderapp.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:02 AM
I was very proud to lobby this bill on behalf of the Bay Area Council! This is the huge win we hoped it would be
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
“The Leg should revisit how state code requirements (and local code amendments) are made, requiring cost-benefit analysis. Then audit the existing code and strip away rules that don't pass the test.“
My thoughts exactly.
My thoughts exactly.
Reducing the cost of construction is a job for state legislatures. A 🧵 w/ ideas for California's 2026 legislative session.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20060...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20060...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: "For a typical mid-rise apartment in San José, construction costs can exceed $700k–$900k per unit." I 💯% agree w/ @MattMahanSJ that reducing construction costs should be a top priority f...
threadreaderapp.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:51 PM
“The Leg should revisit how state code requirements (and local code amendments) are made, requiring cost-benefit analysis. Then audit the existing code and strip away rules that don't pass the test.“
My thoughts exactly.
My thoughts exactly.
🧵 on a big new CA Court of Appeal decision that's going to make CEQA attorneys think twice when they're next asked to challenge a housing approval on contingency.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: New decision from CA Court of Appeal on the fee-shifting provisions of AB 1633 has big implications for NIMBYs' incentive to challenge housing approvals under CEQA & beyond. This one bel...
threadreaderapp.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:55 PM
🧵 on a big new CA Court of Appeal decision that's going to make CEQA attorneys think twice when they're next asked to challenge a housing approval on contingency.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
Reducing the cost of construction is a job for state legislatures. A 🧵 w/ ideas for California's 2026 legislative session.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20060...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20060...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: "For a typical mid-rise apartment in San José, construction costs can exceed $700k–$900k per unit." I 💯% agree w/ @MattMahanSJ that reducing construction costs should be a top priority f...
threadreaderapp.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Reducing the cost of construction is a job for state legislatures. A 🧵 w/ ideas for California's 2026 legislative session.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20060...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20060...
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
Recent manuscript by @cselmendorf.bsky.social, @dbroockman.bsky.social and Joshua Kalla suggests this *is* important.
osf.io/preprints/so...
osf.io/preprints/so...
OSF
osf.io
December 30, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Recent manuscript by @cselmendorf.bsky.social, @dbroockman.bsky.social and Joshua Kalla suggests this *is* important.
osf.io/preprints/so...
osf.io/preprints/so...
Big test of the Permit Streamlining Act is underway in San Diego. Keep an eye on this one, especially if you're a legislator.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20024...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20024...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: Cooking in San Diego: A turquoise, 23-story test of the Permit Streamlining Act's new-and-improved "deemed approved" proviso. This could turn into a big constitutional battle. 🧵/22 Enact...
threadreaderapp.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Big test of the Permit Streamlining Act is underway in San Diego. Keep an eye on this one, especially if you're a legislator.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20024...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20024...
Incredible
Earlier this year, the director of CalTrans presented this chart to members of the state Senate’s Transportation Committee, showing a dramatic rise in deaths on California's roads.
No lawmakers asked about the chart. Or what CalTrans was doing about it.
1/9
No lawmakers asked about the chart. Or what CalTrans was doing about it.
1/9
December 16, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Incredible
Watch four-story zoning deliver a 25-story project, courtesy of California's Density Bonus Law.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19969...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19969...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: In the topsy-turvy world of CA Density Bonus Law: - San Francisco almost certainly must approve this 25-story project on a site zoned for 4 stories - The city's new ordinance deregulatin...
threadreaderapp.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Watch four-story zoning deliver a 25-story project, courtesy of California's Density Bonus Law.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19969...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19969...
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
I asked a national expert on laws like this, @cselmendorf.bsky.social, what parts of Oregon's proposed rules are most nationally important.
He called their use of "good enough" + clear consequences for real-life outcomes "conceptually a big step forward."
He called their use of "good enough" + clear consequences for real-life outcomes "conceptually a big step forward."
December 4, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I asked a national expert on laws like this, @cselmendorf.bsky.social, what parts of Oregon's proposed rules are most nationally important.
He called their use of "good enough" + clear consequences for real-life outcomes "conceptually a big step forward."
He called their use of "good enough" + clear consequences for real-life outcomes "conceptually a big step forward."
Looking forward to joining @alecstapp.bsky.social
and Steve Teles at @ucriverside.bsky.social
for this Abundance event on Friday.
myadv.ucr.edu/forms/spp-10...
and Steve Teles at @ucriverside.bsky.social
for this Abundance event on Friday.
myadv.ucr.edu/forms/spp-10...
Creating a Thriving, Prosperous, and Abundant World: What Does That Mean and How Can It Be Achieved?
myadv.ucr.edu
December 2, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Looking forward to joining @alecstapp.bsky.social
and Steve Teles at @ucriverside.bsky.social
for this Abundance event on Friday.
myadv.ucr.edu/forms/spp-10...
and Steve Teles at @ucriverside.bsky.social
for this Abundance event on Friday.
myadv.ucr.edu/forms/spp-10...
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
Three cheers to Flagstaff for––as of a few minutes ago––becoming the first city in Arizona (and maybe the entire southwest?) to legalize fourplexes on every residential lot citywide.
And congrats to Flagstaff for Affordable Housing & @azneighborhood.bsky.social for leading the charge!
And congrats to Flagstaff for Affordable Housing & @azneighborhood.bsky.social for leading the charge!
Last year the #azleg passed HB2721 to require cities to allow #middlehousing around their central business districts. Last night the Flagstaff P&Z commission approved a plan to apply the middle housing law citywide! Thank you Flagstaff for taking a lead in addressing the state’s #housingcrisis.
December 2, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Three cheers to Flagstaff for––as of a few minutes ago––becoming the first city in Arizona (and maybe the entire southwest?) to legalize fourplexes on every residential lot citywide.
And congrats to Flagstaff for Affordable Housing & @azneighborhood.bsky.social for leading the charge!
And congrats to Flagstaff for Affordable Housing & @azneighborhood.bsky.social for leading the charge!
Scale -> incentive for transportation innovation + internalization of agglomeration externalities. Which gives @caforever.bsky.social an incentive build densely, which normal greenfield developers lack.
I’m confused what makes this project more special than any other greenfield project (save the fact it’s financed by people like Marc Andreesen)
My op-ed w/ Ed Glaeser in today's @latimes.com argues that CA needs a state-level permitting framework for housing projects of statewide significance, like
@caforever.bsky.social.
1/2
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
@caforever.bsky.social.
1/2
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
December 2, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Scale -> incentive for transportation innovation + internalization of agglomeration externalities. Which gives @caforever.bsky.social an incentive build densely, which normal greenfield developers lack.
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
Incredible op-ed from 2 absolute legends. Localities should not have veto power over projects of state or regional concern. That's a classic collective action problem
And it's especially harmful when it prevents great and ambitious projects like California Forever from being built
And it's especially harmful when it prevents great and ambitious projects like California Forever from being built
My op-ed w/ Ed Glaeser in today's @latimes.com argues that CA needs a state-level permitting framework for housing projects of statewide significance, like
@caforever.bsky.social.
1/2
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
@caforever.bsky.social.
1/2
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Contributor: Clear a path for sweeping urban experiments such as California Forever
As some states have tried with clean energy projects, California should empower a state official to approve important large developments without giving counties and cities a veto.
www.latimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Incredible op-ed from 2 absolute legends. Localities should not have veto power over projects of state or regional concern. That's a classic collective action problem
And it's especially harmful when it prevents great and ambitious projects like California Forever from being built
And it's especially harmful when it prevents great and ambitious projects like California Forever from being built
My op-ed w/ Ed Glaeser in today's @latimes.com argues that CA needs a state-level permitting framework for housing projects of statewide significance, like
@caforever.bsky.social.
1/2
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
@caforever.bsky.social.
1/2
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Contributor: Clear a path for sweeping urban experiments such as California Forever
As some states have tried with clean energy projects, California should empower a state official to approve important large developments without giving counties and cities a veto.
www.latimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
My op-ed w/ Ed Glaeser in today's @latimes.com argues that CA needs a state-level permitting framework for housing projects of statewide significance, like
@caforever.bsky.social.
1/2
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
@caforever.bsky.social.
1/2
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
NEW PAPER w/ @cselmendorf.bsky.social & @jkalla.bsky.social:
An under-appreciated reason why voters oppose dense new housing, especially in less-dense neighborhoods: they think it looks ugly and want to prevent that, even in other neighborhoods.
Some of what we think is NIMBYism might not be!
An under-appreciated reason why voters oppose dense new housing, especially in less-dense neighborhoods: they think it looks ugly and want to prevent that, even in other neighborhoods.
Some of what we think is NIMBYism might not be!
November 25, 2025 at 8:12 PM
NEW PAPER w/ @cselmendorf.bsky.social & @jkalla.bsky.social:
An under-appreciated reason why voters oppose dense new housing, especially in less-dense neighborhoods: they think it looks ugly and want to prevent that, even in other neighborhoods.
Some of what we think is NIMBYism might not be!
An under-appreciated reason why voters oppose dense new housing, especially in less-dense neighborhoods: they think it looks ugly and want to prevent that, even in other neighborhoods.
Some of what we think is NIMBYism might not be!
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
@cselmendorf.bsky.social told me about this paper last week and I think it's a paper that every developer should force their architects to read.
NEW PAPER w/ @cselmendorf.bsky.social & @jkalla.bsky.social:
An under-appreciated reason why voters oppose dense new housing, especially in less-dense neighborhoods: they think it looks ugly and want to prevent that, even in other neighborhoods.
Some of what we think is NIMBYism might not be!
An under-appreciated reason why voters oppose dense new housing, especially in less-dense neighborhoods: they think it looks ugly and want to prevent that, even in other neighborhoods.
Some of what we think is NIMBYism might not be!
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM
@cselmendorf.bsky.social told me about this paper last week and I think it's a paper that every developer should force their architects to read.
👀 Since 2018, 15 major foundations have donated "$260 million ... to nonprofits across California that have actively opposed pro-housing legislation"
New from me for Inside Philanthropy: California foundations need to decide whether they genuinely want to improve housing affordability or would rather keep funding NIMBY obstructionism in Sacramento. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/philant...
Philanthropy Needs to Pick a Side on the Housing Construction Debate
Despite California’s severe housing shortage, foundations are still funding on the wrong side of the housing fight there, guest author Ned Resnikoff writes.
www.insidephilanthropy.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:27 PM
👀 Since 2018, 15 major foundations have donated "$260 million ... to nonprofits across California that have actively opposed pro-housing legislation"
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
Professor Chris taught me that the Bay Area Council was in the 90’s the sponsor of what is now known as the Builders’ Remedy!
"One way or the other, the answer was going to be yes."
Great reporting by @conordougherty.bsky.social on the resuscitation of California's builder's remedy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
Great reporting by @conordougherty.bsky.social on the resuscitation of California's builder's remedy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
The Housing Strategy That Has California NIMBYs in a Corner
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Professor Chris taught me that the Bay Area Council was in the 90’s the sponsor of what is now known as the Builders’ Remedy!
Reposted by Chris Elmendorf
This is a great article from @conordougherty.bsky.social on the Builder's Remedy. The only detail I would've added is that @cselmendorf.bsky.social told the world about the Builder's Remedy in a tweet thread on **New Year's Day** because that's how hard that man is working to get homes built.
The Housing Strategy That Has California NIMBYs in a Corner
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This is a great article from @conordougherty.bsky.social on the Builder's Remedy. The only detail I would've added is that @cselmendorf.bsky.social told the world about the Builder's Remedy in a tweet thread on **New Year's Day** because that's how hard that man is working to get homes built.