Shane Phillips
@shanedphillips.bsky.social
Housing guy. Researcher at UCLA Lewis Center, host of UCLA Housing Voice Podcast, author of The Affordable City, resident of Los Angeles.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Check out the depth of this @thecacoast.bsky.social required parking lot for a new apartment building in Santa Monica. This looks like an expensive hole! Great news for renters. And I’m sure the neighbors will love all the additional cars this puts on the road.
November 11, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Check out the depth of this @thecacoast.bsky.social required parking lot for a new apartment building in Santa Monica. This looks like an expensive hole! Great news for renters. And I’m sure the neighbors will love all the additional cars this puts on the road.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 AM
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
Reposted by Shane Phillips
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Episode 101: Beyond Zoning with John Zeanah and Andre D. Jones (Incentives Series pt. 4)
Your city just legalized “missing middle” housing in its zoning code — now what? Looking at Memphis, Tennessee, we discuss the hidden non-zoning barriers to developing small apartment buildings.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Reposted by Shane Phillips
In 2018, then-Mayor Ada Colau called Barcelona’s new 30% inclusionary housing requirement for projects over 600m^2 a “paradigm shift,” making housing “a right and not a commodity.” It was supposed to produce 330 affordable units a year. The reality: just 31 affordable apartments in all these years.
Cuando se ha aprobó esta medida dije repetidamente que iba a ser un fracaso y que no construirían nada de vivienda asequible. Se ha probado en mil sitios y no funciona.
Acerté. www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcel...
Acerté. www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcel...
La reserva del 30% solo ha generado 31 nuevas viviendas protegidas en siete años en Barcelona
Otros 123 pisos disponen de licencia ya aprobada, mientras los gremios afectados reclaman un marco legal estable para poder despertar al sector de su letargo
www.lavanguardia.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
In 2018, then-Mayor Ada Colau called Barcelona’s new 30% inclusionary housing requirement for projects over 600m^2 a “paradigm shift,” making housing “a right and not a commodity.” It was supposed to produce 330 affordable units a year. The reality: just 31 affordable apartments in all these years.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
One way to reduce condo defect liability: stop forcing architects to design buildings that leak. HCD’s “objective design standards” guide *encourages* making building envelopes more complex, heightening leak and therefore defect lawsuit risk cao-94612.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/Ap...
November 7, 2025 at 2:42 AM
One way to reduce condo defect liability: stop forcing architects to design buildings that leak. HCD’s “objective design standards” guide *encourages* making building envelopes more complex, heightening leak and therefore defect lawsuit risk cao-94612.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/Ap...
Cancel culture is back baby
Thousands of flights across the U.S. are set to be canceled. Here's a list of 40 affected airports and what you need to know. 🔗 on.wsj.com/3LsYeYz
November 6, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Cancel culture is back baby
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Why do builders put up giant McMansions, when zoning allows a fourplex? TLDR: A host of regulations make fourplexes lose money.
I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.
I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.
November 5, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Why do builders put up giant McMansions, when zoning allows a fourplex? TLDR: A host of regulations make fourplexes lose money.
I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.
I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Especially good episode! John and Andre are heroes when it comes to missing middle development, especially cool to hear them talk about it from a policy lens!
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Episode 101: Beyond Zoning with John Zeanah and Andre D. Jones (Incentives Series pt. 4)
Your city just legalized “missing middle” housing in its zoning code — now what? Looking at Memphis, Tennessee, we discuss the hidden non-zoning barriers to developing small apartment buildings.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 6, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Especially good episode! John and Andre are heroes when it comes to missing middle development, especially cool to hear them talk about it from a policy lens!
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Oh this is exciting! I worked with John on a project many years ago and have nothing but good things to say about him, and he’s doing great things in Memphis
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Episode 101: Beyond Zoning with John Zeanah and Andre D. Jones (Incentives Series pt. 4)
Your city just legalized “missing middle” housing in its zoning code — now what? Looking at Memphis, Tennessee, we discuss the hidden non-zoning barriers to developing small apartment buildings.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Oh this is exciting! I worked with John on a project many years ago and have nothing but good things to say about him, and he’s doing great things in Memphis
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Episode 101: Beyond Zoning with John Zeanah and Andre D. Jones (Incentives Series pt. 4)
Your city just legalized “missing middle” housing in its zoning code — now what? Looking at Memphis, Tennessee, we discuss the hidden non-zoning barriers to developing small apartment buildings.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Does anyone know how much money California *could* borrow via bonds if it wanted to? I'm curious about its capacity to fund lightly to moderately subsidized social housing, if the use of funds matters for how much can be borrowed. @aceckhouse.bsky.social @pewilliams.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Does anyone know how much money California *could* borrow via bonds if it wanted to? I'm curious about its capacity to fund lightly to moderately subsidized social housing, if the use of funds matters for how much can be borrowed. @aceckhouse.bsky.social @pewilliams.bsky.social
Reposted by Shane Phillips
The sixth-greatest trick the devil ever pulled: "Maybe on paper I'm rich, but it's not liquid." Oh, like most wealth throughout history?
November 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The sixth-greatest trick the devil ever pulled: "Maybe on paper I'm rich, but it's not liquid." Oh, like most wealth throughout history?
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Chicago has had huge growth in the # households since 2010, meaning more demand for housing.
As I blogged about a few months ago, it's not alone — in 2020 many cities reached all-time highs in the # of households, even after past population loss.
pencillingout.substack.com/p/some-citie...
As I blogged about a few months ago, it's not alone — in 2020 many cities reached all-time highs in the # of households, even after past population loss.
pencillingout.substack.com/p/some-citie...
November 2, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Chicago has had huge growth in the # households since 2010, meaning more demand for housing.
As I blogged about a few months ago, it's not alone — in 2020 many cities reached all-time highs in the # of households, even after past population loss.
pencillingout.substack.com/p/some-citie...
As I blogged about a few months ago, it's not alone — in 2020 many cities reached all-time highs in the # of households, even after past population loss.
pencillingout.substack.com/p/some-citie...
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Academics’ and planners’ single-minded focus on making *brand new* homes affordable to the poorest people has been a disaster for poor people’s’ ability to afford housing.
Real grim stuff from a nonprofit staff attorney and former UCSD urban studies lecturer
October 31, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Academics’ and planners’ single-minded focus on making *brand new* homes affordable to the poorest people has been a disaster for poor people’s’ ability to afford housing.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
France, with its cost rental system, produces essentially the same number of units as LIHTC despite having a 1/5 of America’s population and providing much lower subsidies.
October 29, 2025 at 4:27 AM
France, with its cost rental system, produces essentially the same number of units as LIHTC despite having a 1/5 of America’s population and providing much lower subsidies.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
New Lewis Center at UCLA report by Paavo Monkkonen on French social housing.
Is the cost rental and financing model upstream of France’s ability to build large number of units without deep subsidies?
escholarship.org/content/qt8d...
Is the cost rental and financing model upstream of France’s ability to build large number of units without deep subsidies?
escholarship.org/content/qt8d...
October 29, 2025 at 3:59 AM
New Lewis Center at UCLA report by Paavo Monkkonen on French social housing.
Is the cost rental and financing model upstream of France’s ability to build large number of units without deep subsidies?
escholarship.org/content/qt8d...
Is the cost rental and financing model upstream of France’s ability to build large number of units without deep subsidies?
escholarship.org/content/qt8d...
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Better version - this is full version and was loaded 8 years ago - long before AI.... even mentions Canada at about 2 minutes. youtu.be/5t5QK03KXPc?...
President Reagan's Radio Address on Free and Fair Trade on April 25, 1987
YouTube video by Reagan Library
youtu.be
October 25, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Better version - this is full version and was loaded 8 years ago - long before AI.... even mentions Canada at about 2 minutes. youtu.be/5t5QK03KXPc?...
At the heart of this mindset is the idea, "our best days are behind us" -- that more people can only make things worse, never better. For such an inherently conservative idea, it's espoused by far too many people on the lefty end of the spectrum.
"Cities should remain museum pieces for incumbents and any newcomer is strictly a burden" is the most loser mindset that powers the most loser politics in America today.
Moving to New York and pulling the ladder up behind myself, but wokely
October 26, 2025 at 4:04 AM
At the heart of this mindset is the idea, "our best days are behind us" -- that more people can only make things worse, never better. For such an inherently conservative idea, it's espoused by far too many people on the lefty end of the spectrum.
"Development is unpopular because it's ugly" actually has it mostly backward. It's more accurate to say that development is ugly because it's unpopular. So many of the rules and standards that make it ugly are downstream of politically powerful groups' general opposition to development of any kind.
We could talk about why the ballroom costs $3,333 psf ($3,888 with the contingency), sure www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/o...
October 26, 2025 at 12:56 AM
"Development is unpopular because it's ugly" actually has it mostly backward. It's more accurate to say that development is ugly because it's unpopular. So many of the rules and standards that make it ugly are downstream of politically powerful groups' general opposition to development of any kind.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Everyone who seriously entertained the possibility of some new binding agreement with these people looks like a huge idiot right now
The president got his feelings hurt, so we're doing 10% more tariffs on Canada. Joke of an administration.
October 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Everyone who seriously entertained the possibility of some new binding agreement with these people looks like a huge idiot right now
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Canadians continue to avoid the US—visits inched down to the lowest level since COVID in August, down more than 30% since the election
October 22, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Canadians continue to avoid the US—visits inched down to the lowest level since COVID in August, down more than 30% since the election
Reposted by Shane Phillips
An embarrassingly obvious point, but...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on Canada by 10% after Ontario’s Reagan ad | CNN Business
President Donald Trump said Saturday he is increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% over current levels, further escalating trade tensions over what he called a “fake” ad that featured parts of an anti-...
www.cnn.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM
An embarrassingly obvious point, but...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
Reposted by Shane Phillips
The president announces an arbitrary price hike on Americans because his feelings are hurt by an ad accurately quoting Ronald Reagan’s criticism of tariffs
October 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The president announces an arbitrary price hike on Americans because his feelings are hurt by an ad accurately quoting Ronald Reagan’s criticism of tariffs
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Let’s be clear. If a completely immature & unhinged maniac is allowed to do this kind of thing out of toddler-level spite when President’s DON’T EVEN HAVE THE POWER TO UNILATERALLY LEVY TARIFFS, then there simply IS NO LEGITIMATE TRADE RELATIONSHIP between the United States & Canada or any country.
October 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Let’s be clear. If a completely immature & unhinged maniac is allowed to do this kind of thing out of toddler-level spite when President’s DON’T EVEN HAVE THE POWER TO UNILATERALLY LEVY TARIFFS, then there simply IS NO LEGITIMATE TRADE RELATIONSHIP between the United States & Canada or any country.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
This @davidzipper.bsky.social article has a number of bangers, including the fact that EUROPEAN nations build freeways significantly cheaper than the US.
That's literally the one transportation thing Americans think they're good at, and they're getting smoked.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
That's literally the one transportation thing Americans think they're good at, and they're getting smoked.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
American Roads Are Paved With Inefficiency
Why do US highway projects cost so much? A researcher finds some surprising sources of infrastructure inflation, and points to ways to make road work more affordable.
www.bloomberg.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
This @davidzipper.bsky.social article has a number of bangers, including the fact that EUROPEAN nations build freeways significantly cheaper than the US.
That's literally the one transportation thing Americans think they're good at, and they're getting smoked.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
That's literally the one transportation thing Americans think they're good at, and they're getting smoked.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...