An interactive map showing excess state-owned property that can be used for new housing developments has been developed by the California Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the creation of the map as part of Executive Order N-06-19 issued in January as part of his push to create more affordable housing in California.
State properties that were underutilized or “excess to need” were identified and then screened to determine which sites would be potentially suitable for affordable housing development. The screening tools included such factors as relative size, proximity to schools, transportation and amenities, and general location to determine which sites have a better chance of being successfully developed.
The resulting GIS-enabled map is searchable and interactive, showing each site identified in the inventory, with a "heat map" overlay indicating where housing is most needed in the state. Not every property on the map will be developed, it simply shows properties that have potential, said officials.
There were about 100 sites on the map at the end of August, but that number will go up and down as new properties are added or others get taken off the list, according to HCD.
In September, DGS, in consultation with HCD, will begin issuing requests for proposals to begin developing affordable housing at selected sites. Developing entities would receive a long-term ground lease from the state and would build, own, and manage the housing they develop, subject to oversight from the state.
