M. Nolan Gray 🥑
@mnolangray
the once and future city planner // YIMBY // AICP // kentuckian in california // appalachian // #BBN // author of hit broadway musical arbitrary lines
Designated parking spaces for pregnant women are nearly universally present in recent development here in Guatemala, but you rarely see them in the US. I wonder why?
The reason why this project sailed through approvals is that (a) council knows that housing affordability is the number one issue facing Sacramentans; and (b) House Sacramento very simply out organized NIMBYs, showing up in force. No need for 30 years out of date conspiracies.
At least six cranes visible from the Aeroclub de Guatemala. YIMBY Guatemala City!
The NIMBYism is coached entirely in terms of public safety, and they even tagged the post "Fire." Pro-housing commenters aren't having it.
In the past, this would have been a once-in-generation growth year for permitting in Palo Alto, one of the most expensive cities in the US. Thanks to YIMBY laws like SB 79, it could soon be the new norm. Just look at extrapolated 2026 permits based on monthly permitting so far:
True San Francisco locals know that this zoning arbitrage Capital One Café is the play for coffee.
Moved into an ADU this week. Set up a space that I've been dreaming about for a while.
What is the story of this fourplex typology that seems to be all over the Sacramento grid?
It was one of the great privileges of my career to join Anna Caballero in presenting SB 1116 at her final policy committee. Her leadership on the Starter Home Revitalization Act will help thouands of California families to attain homeownership and achieve the California Dream.
I worry that, on apartment junk reform, some very good ideas (requiring upfront disclosure, abolishing mandatoy "fees") are being used to launder some very bad ideas (ending parking unbundling, abolishing fees for optional, costly add-ons, like pets). www.cbs8.com/article/news...
This is my schedule today and, having moved this weekend, the only suit I have that wasn't seemingly stacked under a pile of boxes is wool. Wish me luck!
Last week, I joined the Realtopia podcast to discuss the continuing centrality of zoning in shaping US cities, and how it needs to be reformed. Enjoy! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...
I haven't studied it in detail, but from what I have seen, the natural experiment that Buenos Aires ran over the past six years seems like yet more clear evidence that rent control limits supply and (ironically) raises rents.
Absolutely love a cozy bar and/or café in a Japanese video game, definitely a top third space.
Conversely, I pay a $250 month parking fee. (I'm downtown.) Many in the building don't need parking and so don't pay it. Many need parking, but find better deals in nearby garages. Decoupling this "fee" from rent empowers renters. Sounds like FTC appreciates the distinction?
Criterion Haul! I may return and a couple more; I try to buy half films I've seen, half films I haven't seen. Recommendations welcome.
Of course, I'm paid to say all of this—at least for now. The real heroes are the volunteers who take the time to come up to Sacramento and back us up. Thank you to Paul Steidl of BuildCasa and Meea Kang of Council of Infill Builders for also testifying!
AB 1070 by @chriswardca.bsky.social: Authorizes the state to start researching/developing standards to raise the residential code threshold to 10 units. cayimby.org/legislation/... Next week is the last week of policy committees—we're extremely close to the finish line.
SB 1116 by Senator Anna Caballero: Further streamlines the Starter Home Revitalization Act (SB 684-1123), which makes it easy to build townhouses and small-lot homes statewide. cayimby.org/legislation/...
Yesterday was a busy day: Three bills, three great authors, three pieces of testimony, three unanimous votes in support! SB 1014 by Senator Tim Grayson: Requires cities to disclose on/off-site improvements within 30 days of an application—not late in the process. cayimby.org/legislation/...
I think Instagram has figured out that I am very excited about becoming a dad.
I'm hearing that YIMBYs across the country, and possibly the world, will be gathering to observe and celebrate 7/9 in recognition of SB 79. Very cool!
I'm generally a single-issue housing voter, but I may make the Sacramento pool issue into my second issue. It's absurd that all of these public pools are closed! They're already being maintained and I find it hard to believe that entry fees, concessions, and a tiny subsidy can't cover operations.
Maybe I'm degenerating into traddism with age, but I think it would be a valuable national project to take the many thousands of fine-but-not-great and dead-or-dying Main Streets that exist across the US and put in the time and money needed to turn them into fantastic places.
It's interesting that perhaps one of the most famous places on Earth, Main Street USA, is basically just an exemplary, not completely fantastical Missouri high street from the 1910s. (With a castle, of course.)