Renters at a Loss

A new era in land use has begun in San Diego, and it does not bode well for apartment dwellers. Our City Council has passed laws that mean higher land prices and consequently, higher rents. This is accomplished by down-zoning many areas of the city to single-family from multifamily. Of course, it is not advertised as down-zoning. Rather, it is given a flashy new title--”the protected single-family neighborhood.”

Besides this, new laws have been passed which restrict on-street parking so that only a limited number of people can share an apartment or house. The council knows exactly what it is doing. It is raising the cost of living for the majority of the population who happen to be renters.

At the same time, the council members tell us of their love for “affordable housing” and the “balanced community.” But they know that reducing density means higher prices for the few remaining areas where apartments are allowed to be built.

Adding impetus for down-zoning is the indisputable fact that district elections have transferred political power from well-heeled developers to well-organized homeowner groups. The day of developer campaign contributions buying the election is over, and the politicians know it. The developer can no longer buy his way into high-density zoning wherever he wants it. The homeowners have a different agenda--no apartments in my neighborhood, period. If this means changing the existing plan and the existing zoning, the council will change them.

Although the limited growth and building cap was defeated in the November, 1988 election, its intent will be fulfilled by the City Council to placate the homeowners that elect them. While renters are a majority of the city’s population, it is the homeowners who vote in the low-turnout city elections.

Those who are at the lower rungs of the economic ladder will sink further. They will pay a higher percent of their income for housing, and since San Diego is already the least affordable city for renters in the United States, some will be pushed into homelessness.

MELVIN SHAPIRO

San Diego