A trio of new assembly bills addressing student housing were recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, including Assembly Bill 893, which focuses on incentivizing affordable housing construction near college campus development zones and streamlining ministerial review of qualifying projects.
The bill, authored by Assemblymember Mike Fong, defines development zones as being located within half a mile of any UC, CSU and California Community College campus. AB 893 aims to create easier access to affordable housing for low-income students and staff, specifically for students who may not have previously qualified under the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
Chaptered into California Law on Oct. 10, it aims to ease the pressure on students due to the housing crisis, which the bill states is a result of unit shortages on college campuses…