Bay area

The episode turned the spotlight on the Bay Area’s exorbitant housing prices — but also on the practice of home flipping and what role it plays in people being priced out of neighborhoods. Wedgewood Properties, the Southern California firm that owns the house, has been one of Oakland’s most prolific house flippers, rehabbing and selling 160 homes. Many are calling this real estate speculation that fuels gentrification, and displaces longtime working-class Oakland residents. … [Read more...] about Bay Briefing: 49ers bound for Super Bowl

San Francisco Director of Real Estate John Updike said Related is planning to use a tax-exempt bond to increase the percentage of affordable housing at 30 Van Ness from 12 percent, which is required under the city’s Market and Octavia Area Plan, to 20 percent. The city is also looking at a subsidy that could increase the affordable housing number to 33 percent. … [Read more...] about S.F.’s sale of 30 Van Ness boosts busy area’s residential outlook

Firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing from a second-floor unit in the back of the building, the fire authority said. They entered through the front door and found flames coming from a storage room in the building. … [Read more...] about Daly City apartment fire displaces 15 residents

Like so many displaced people, Ronald Weeks has lost everything he owns more than once. He is one of about 50 people living in a homeless encampment along Wood St. in Oakland. Recently, he has dedicated his time to building homes for the people in his community. His first one, which he built for himself, is nearly complete. Unfortunately, Weeks may lose it before he has the chance to move in. A developer has purchased the land on which it sits and has given him, and others, two weeks notice to vacate the property. … [Read more...] about Homeless camps becoming entrenched in Oakland

Hundreds also gathered for watch parties in downtown San Jose, like at the Sp2 Communal Bar. Fan Erica Ybarra of San Jose was excited for her first watch party to be going so well. “We normally do this at home, but we thought it’d be fun to hang out with our fellow Niner fans. It’s working out pretty good,” Ybarra said. … [Read more...] about Niner Faithful Pack Bay Area Watch Parties As Team Earns Super Bowl Berth