[97fan]

The main reason there's not more density on the Peninsula is that most of the people who make the zoning rules have a vested interest in restricting the supply of housing, while most of the people who would benefit from more dense development don't have a say in the zoning rules.

If you're a Palo Alto homeowner, more housing in your community not only changes the character of the place, and probably not in ways that you favor, it also exerts downward pressure on the value of your own property.

If you're a Facebook employee who lives in an overpriced rental in San Bruno, and you'd rather live in Palo Alto, but it would be even more expensive to rent there, you'd likely favor the construction of more housing in Palo Alto. But you also don't have a say in electing the public officials in Palo Alto who write the zoning rules.

[97fan]

The main reason there's not more density on the Peninsula is that most of the people who make the zoning rules have a vested interest in restricting the supply of housing, while most of the people who would benefit from more dense development don't have a say in the zoning rules.

If you're a Palo Alto homeowner, more housing in your community not only changes the character of the place, and probably not in ways that you favor, it also exerts downward pressure on the value of your own property.

If you're a Facebook employee who lives in an overpriced rental in San Bruno, and you'd rather live in Palo Alto, but it would be even more expensive to rent there, you'd likely favor the construction of more housing in Palo Alto. But you also don't have a say in electing the public officials in Palo Alto who write the zoning rules.