Law Commons^™

California Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Inclusionary Zoning As Land Use Regulation And Not An Exaction, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

Local governments, housing advocates, and people who need affordable housing won a solid victory in the California Supreme Court's unanimous opinion in California Bldg. Indus. Ass'n v. City of San Jose. In a complex 64-page opinion that is clearly drafted and rigorously argued, the court held that inclusionary zoning is a constitutionally permissible strategy to produce affordable housing and to promote economic integration that is subject to rational basis review and not heightened scrutiny.

This article outlines the factual and legal background of the case and discusses the court's reasoning in reaching its decision, including the court's refusal to find …

Maximizing Inclusionary Zoning’S Contributions To Both Affordable Housing And Residential Integration, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

Inclusionary zoning is a popular policy that can uniquely serve both affordable housing and fair housing goals at the same time. Assuming the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development finalizes its proposed “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” regulation, inclusionary zoning will become more broadly used. But more extensive use of inclusionary zoning poses both opportunities and risks for housing advocates because of the following three issues: (1) Unacknowledged tradeoffs between affordable housing and fair housing goals in inclusionary zoning design and implementation; (2) Conflicting concepts of residential integration; and (3) Legal challenges to inclusionary zoning. The challenge facing inclusionary zoning …

How Should The Law Treat Roommate Relationships? A Tale Of Two Cases, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

The law of roommates is an important but underdeveloped area of landlord-tenant law. Two recent cases, Fair Hous. Council v. Roommate.com, 666 F.3d 1216 (9th Cir. 2012) and Mercury Cas. Co. v. Chu, 229 CA4th 1432 (2014), offer contrasting approaches. This article explores the issues, reviews the cases and favors the Mercury court's approach.

The Promises And Pitfalls Of Micro-Housing, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

This is a primer on the new and growing phenomenon of micro-housing. It defines micro-housing, discusses policy arguments and outlines regulatory issues.

Does Fair Housing Law Apply To “Shared Living Situations”? Or, The Trouble With Roommates, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

In 2012, the Ninth Circuit held that to avoid a constitutional conflict with the right to freedom of association neither the federal Fair Housing Act nor California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act apply to persons seeking roommates or to other shared living situations. This article criticizes the opinion as poorly reasoned and overly broad and then offers a more targeted legislative solution to the problem.

Amicus Brief On Behalf Of The Leo T. Mccarthy Center For Public Service And The Common Good And 44 Housing Scholars To California Supreme Court In California Building Industry Association V. City Of San Jose (S212072), Tim Iglesias, David Rusk, Jan Breidenbach, Nico Calavita, Steven Menendian, John Powell, Ofurhe Igbinedion, Samir Gambhir, Eli Moore

Tim Iglesias

The briefs of other parties in the litigation emphasized inclusionary zoning’s goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing. This brief focuses on inclusionary zoning’s goal of promoting social inclusion and integration by locating affordable housing in the right location. The brief explains how economic and racial segregation deny equality of opportunity to low and moderate income families because segregation limits their potential for economic and social mobility by restricting access to the primary means of mobility, e.g. employment and education. Drawing from a wide array of empirical and other studies the brief demonstrates how inclusionary zoning is an effective …

Amicus Brief On Behalf Of The Leo T. Mccarthy Center For Public Service And The Common Good And 44 Housing Scholars To California Supreme Court In California Building Industry Association V. City Of San Jose (S212072), Tim Iglesias, David Rusk, Jan Breidenbach, Nico Calavita, Steven Menendian, John A. Powell, Ofurhe Arnica Igbinedion, Samir Gambhir, Eli Moore

john a. powell

The briefs of other parties in the litigation emphasized inclusionary zoning’s goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing. This brief focuses on inclusionary zoning’s goal of promoting social inclusion and integration by locating affordable housing in the right location. The brief explains how economic and racial segregation deny equality of opportunity to low and moderate income families because segregation limits their potential for economic and social mobility by restricting access to the primary means of mobility, e.g. employment and education. Drawing from a wide array of empirical and other studies the brief demonstrates how inclusionary zoning is an effective …

Defining “Family” For Zoning: Contemporary Policy Challenges, Legal Limits And Options, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

Single family zones are ubiquitous, diversely-defined and both popular and controversial. Much of the controversy stems from who is excluded from living in these zones by the definition of “family.” After reviewing single family zones, policy rationales for them, and the basic types of definitions of family, this article surveys contemporary policy challenges and legal limits to definitions of “family.” Recognizing localities’ diverse contexts, the article articulates how localities can reassess their definitions and identifies relevant considerations.

How Real Is Gentrification?, Michael Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

Some commentators argue that gentrification is turning many cities into a playground for the rich. This article rejects that view, pointing out that even relatively affluent cities are still poorer than the average suburb.

Does Fair Housing Law Apply To “Shared Living Situations”? Or, The Trouble With Roommates, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

In 2012, the Ninth Circuit held that to avoid a constitutional conflict with the right to freedom of association neither the federal Fair Housing Act nor California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act apply to persons seeking roommates or to other shared living situations. This article criticizes the opinion as poorly reasoned and overly broad and then offers a more targeted legislative solution to the problem.

This is an abbreviated version of the article that appeared in the JOURNAL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LAW (Spring 2014).

Framing Inclusionary Zoning: Exploring The Legality Of Local Inclusionary Zoning And Its Potential To Meet Affordable Housing Needs, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

Whether local inclusionary zoning (IZ) ordinances can make significant contributions towards meeting affordable housing needs depends in large part on its legality. Courts have not developed a consistent jurisprudence regarding IZ ordinances. The legality of IZ ordinances depends upon how they are framed by the governments who enact them, the opponents who challenge them, and the courts that decide the cases. After a brief introduction, this article explores why framing is possible and likely in judicial review of IZ as well as why it matters. Next, the article analyzes the case law to demonstrate how framing has operated to affect …

Exclusionary Zoning Enforcement, Passé Or Alive And Kicking?, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

This article reviews several recent state cases challenging zoning actions as exclusionary. It identifies patterns in the cases and finds that under certain circumstances courts will limit local governments’ exclusionary actions.

Exclusionary Zoning Enforcement: Passe Or Alive And Kicking?, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

This newsletter article analyzes four recent exclusionary zoning cases in which courts ruled against the government. Based upon the analysis, it offers recommendations to local governments on avoiding exclusionary zoning liability.

Fair Housing At 30: Where We Are, Where We Are Going, Tim Iglesias, Susan Saylor

Tim Iglesias

California has long been a leader in anti-discrimination law including in housing. Thirty years after the founding of the California Real Property Journal, this article asks: How effective have the fair housing laws been in achieving their twin goals of ending housing discrimination and promoting community integration? Much progress has been made during this time, but stubborn patterns of bias and segregation persist. At the same time, our laws have expanded to encompass more people and more situations, making the goalpost more distant and elusive. This article (1) describes at how fair housing laws have changed since the first issue …

Reflections On Fair Housing Law, Tim Iglesias

Tim Iglesias

This presentation offered reflections on the state of fair housing law in light of numerous studies evaluating its effectiveness. It argues that while enforcement needs to be improved, fair housing advocates must also employ complementary strategies to reform social norms.

Greening Historic Dc: Challenges And Opportunities To Incorporate Historic Preservation Into The District's Drive For Sustainable Development, Andrew Stein

Georgetown Law Historic Preservation Papers Series

This paper focuses primarily on the District of Columbia, a city with a robust past and a bold agenda for a sustainable future. However, it may not be obvious why historic preservation - a movement typically concerned with aesthetics - can play an integral role in a city's sustainability initiative. Therefore, this paper first sets forth the basic argument why historic preservation can be a tool to promote sustainable development. Part II examines the scientific data indicating that historic preservation is a green building practice. Next, Part III posits that investment in historic districts is an investment in sustainability. Then, …

Demolition By Neglect: Repairing Buildings By Repairing Legislation, Anna Martin

Georgetown Law Historic Preservation Papers Series

One of the biggest problems today facing communities with historic preservation ordinances is delinquent owners who don’t have the will or the finances to maintain their historic properties and landmarks. Historic preservation law plays an important role in building a sense of patriotism and community togetherness, fostering education and providing incentives for aesthetically pleasing architecture. When residents can identify with a community, this creates a dialogue and sense of belonging. There are also environmental and psychological impacts of preserving old buildings, since human beings are positively affected by their surroundings when they feel a "sense of place." When buildings in …

Conservation Districts: A Solution For The Deanwood Neighborhood?, Kelly B. Bissinger

Georgetown Law Historic Preservation Papers Series

Preserving and protecting home ownership and the affordable housing in the United States remains a serious concern despite numerous federal programs intended to encourage home ownership and to provide affordable housing to low-income individuals and families. Often times, low-income people live in older, run-down neighborhoods in urban areas. There is a constant threat that developers will purchase properties in these areas in order to demolish or renovate existing structures and redevelop the area (this process is often referred to as "gentrification").

One of the consequences of gentrification is the displacement of low-income residents. In those instances where low-income residents own …

Local Inclusionary Housing Programs: Meeting Housing Needs, John R. Nolon, Jessica A. Bacher

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This article explores the expansive legal authority that local governments in many states have to meet housing needs directly by providing for the production of new affordable homes. There is not a great deal of scholarship on the subject as we approach it. The emphasis in the academic literature in the field of affordable housing is on top-down, systemic, or theoretical solutions: urging reforms in federal and state finance programs, imploring courts to penalize localities that engage in exclusionary zoning, describing in detail a variety of inclusionary zoning techniques, or explaining relevant theories or the economics of the issue of …

Striking A Match In The Historic District: Opposition To Historic Preservation And Responsive Community Building, Sarah N. Conde

Georgetown Law Historic Preservation Papers Series

In her 1981 Stanford Law Review article, Carol Rose articulated as a justification for the historic preservation "vogue" a community building rationale that transformed preservation from an end in itself to a means for community self-definition. Procedurally, Rose argued, preservation laws give communities the power to comment on the direction of development, and impurity of motive does not weaken the cause of community members who use the tools preservation law gives them. Suppose, she suggested, that the primary concern of neighbors is avoiding massive construction, and they emphasize history only as an instrument to oppose change. Such a motive is …

A Complete Property Right Amendment, John H. Ryskamp

ExpressO

The trend of the eminent domain reform and "Kelo plus" initiatives is toward a comprehensive Constitutional property right incorporating the elements of level of review, nature of government action, and extent of compensation. This article contains a draft amendment which reflects these concerns.

Zoning And Eminent Domain Under The New Minimum Scrutiny, John H. Ryskamp

ExpressO

Recently the Supreme Court has made it clearer that minimum scrutiny is a factual analysis. Whether in any government action there is a rational relation to a legitimate interest is a matter of determining whether there is a policy maintaining important facts. This has come about in the Court’s emerging emphasis on developing fact-based criteria for determining government purpose. Thus, those who want to affect zoning and eminent domain outcomes should look to what the Court sees as important facts, and whether government action is maintaining those facts with its proposed land use or eminent domain action.

Improving Historic Preservation Enforcement In The District Of Columbia, David J. Henry

Georgetown Law Historic Preservation Papers Series

Within the past few years, the creation of the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) has been an important change in the District of Columbia government. OAH is viewed by many as an innovative government agency that provides fair and impartial administrative adjudication for District agencies, with efficiency. However, since OAH began full operations in 2004, the effectiveness of historic preservation enforcement has actually decreased. The primary indicators of this are the fewer number of completed adjudications and the smaller amount of fines collected in the past year.

This paper is a policy paper. As such, the paper will identify problems …

Breaking The Bank: Revisiting Central Bank Of Denver After Enron And Sarbanes-Oxley, Celia Taylor

ExpressO

No abstract provided.

Shattering The Myth Of Municipal Impotence: The Authority Of Local Government To Create Affordable Housing, John R. Nolon

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

In the absence of any guidance from the legislature, local officials, in confronting the problem of affordable housing, look to the courts to define the extent of their responsibility and power. While not providing specific direction, the New York Court of Appeals has clearly outlawed zoning designed to exclude affordable housing. The judiciary has voiced doubts, however, that municipal governments can, through zoning alone, require the development of affordable housing. The view that municipalities lack such power is erroneous. Zoning alone is competent to induce such development. Furthermore, local governments have considerable additional power to induce the creation of such …

Expanding Traditional Land Use Authority Through Environmental Legislation: The Regulation Of Affordable Housing, John R. Nolon

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This article is devoted to an examination of local land use regulation in the context of the use of SEQRA and its mandate, to mitigate environmental impacts to require the provision of affordable housing in high cost housing markets. As such, it looks at one contemporary manifestation of the growth of police power authority to meet new land use challenges.