For the fourth consecutive year, Olson Homes brought a group of California's most influential housing voices to the table and this year, something has shifted - California’s housing conversation is entering a new phase.
Rather than framing the conversation as cities versus Sacramento or developers versus local government, elected officials, housing experts, legal scholars and industry leaders gathered Thursday around a shared message: California’s housing crisis can only be addressed if government, communities and the private sector work together to say “yes” to housing and make it possible to build.
“The conversation today wasn’t about whether California needs more housing,” said Scott Laurie, President and CEO of Olson Homes. “It was about how we get there together. The encouraging takeaway is that cities, developers and state leaders increasingly recognize they need to be on the same side. When we focus on common ground instead of conflict, we create better communities and better housing solutions for everyone.”
That spirit of collaboration defined the Fourth Annual Housing Symposium, The Future of City Control Over Housing, hosted by Olson Homes and co-hosted by former California Governor Gray Davis and the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College. Throughout the morning, speakers acknowledged the unprecedented housing pressures facing California while emphasizing that local governments, developers and state leaders increasingly share the same objective: creating more housing that communities can support.
“This is not a partisan issue. It is a human issue,” Governor Gray Davis told attendees, setting the tone for discussions focused less on political divisions and more on practical solutions.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger described housing as “the defining challenge of our time,” noting that Los Angeles County sits at the center of California’s housing debate. While reaffirming the need to accelerate production, she stressed that success depends on ensuring communities have the infrastructure necessary to support future growth.
“We must build, and we must build responsibly,” Supervisor Barger said. “The best housing policies are those that actually get housing built.”
One of the strongest themes to emerge throughout the symposium was that while California has enacted increasingly aggressive housing mandates, cities continue to struggle with the financial realities of accommodating new growth. Multiple speakers noted that local governments are often required to approve additional housing without receiving the infrastructure funding necessary for roads, sidewalks, utilities, parks and transportation improvements that growing communities require.
Research presented during the symposium underscored the urgency of California’s housing shortage while highlighting the opportunity for cities to advance practical, locally-informed solutions.
A new Rose Institute report commissioned by Olson Homes, Framing the Future: How Three Southern California Cities Built Successful Housing Strategies, highlighted Carson, Santa Ana and Costa Mesa as examples of cities using locally tailored planning strategies to successfully expand housing while addressing community priorities. The research demonstrated how local leadership, creative planning and community engagement can help cities meet state housing goals while preserving their unique identities.
Attendees also received an advance look at the latest State of Los Angeles County Housing & Neighborhoods (SOLACHAN) Report from USC Lusk Centers Dr Richard K Green and Dr Caroline Bhalla, which found continued demand for living in California despite affordability challenges. Researchers emphasized that data could help government leaders, developers and community members better understand housing trends, identify barriers and evaluate which solutions are producing meaningful results over time.
Panel discussions explored how California’s rapidly evolving housing laws are changing the relationship between state mandates and local authority.
During the first session, Housing Law and the Balance of Power, panelists discussed the growing disconnect between making housing legally permissible and making projects financially feasible. While recent state laws have streamlined approvals for many housing developments, speakers noted that entitlement reform alone cannot overcome rising construction costs, financing challenges and economic conditions that often prevent projects from moving forward.
Several panelists discussed that the next phase of housing policy must focus on ensuring projects are not only legally entitled but economically viable.
Fernando Villa, Partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, encouraged cities to recognize that they continue to retain meaningful discretion under state law while working collaboratively with developers.
“Most developers want to find common ground with cities to address the housing needs of the community,” Villa said. “Understanding where that discretion exists allows cities to preserve local priorities while helping projects become financially workable.”
The symposium’s second panel, Planning Under Pressure: Making State Housing Policy Work Locally, focused on practical implementation strategies. Speakers emphasized that successful housing production increasingly depends on better communication with residents, by helping communities understand how new zoning may impact their neighborhoods.
Infrastructure again emerged as one of the greatest long-term challenges.
As communities seek to create housing opportunities that allow future generations to remain in California, speakers stressed that investments in transportation, utilities and public services must keep pace with residential growth.
“We all want our kids to be able to stay here,” said Anish Saraiya, Director of Altadena Recovery for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “The question is how we build more housing while also providing the infrastructure that communities need.”
The symposium concluded on an optimistic note, with participants observing that relationships between cities, policymakers and the development community have evolved significantly in recent years. Rather than viewing one another as opposing interests, many speakers described a growing recognition that California’s housing shortage cannot be solved through mandates alone. Success will require collaboration, local flexibility, financial feasibility, infrastructure investment and a shared commitment to saying “yes” to housing.
About the Olson Housing Symposium
Now in its fourth year, the Olson Housing Symposium convenes elected officials, housing experts, developers, planners, legal leaders and researchers to examine the policy, economic and planning issues shaping the future of housing in California. Hosted by Olson Homes and co-hosted by former Governor Gray Davis and the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College, the annual symposium serves as a forum for advancing practical solutions that increase housing opportunities while supporting strong local communities.
About Olson Homes
Founded with a passion for thoughtful design and community-focused development, Olson Homes has been building high-quality, attainably priced new homes in walkable, urban-inspired neighborhoods across Southern California for over 38 years. Renowned for its customer-centric approach, Olson has become an eleven-time winner of the Homebuyers' Choice Award for Overall Purchase & Ownership Experience-one of the highest honors in homebuyer satisfaction. With a commitment to personalized service, energy-efficient construction, and lasting value, Olson Homes continues to help homeowners find more than just a house-they find a place to truly call home.
To learn more about Olson Home's Southern California neighborhoods and their award-winning customer experience, visit www.olsonhomes.com.
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