A Republican lawmaker from one of California's rapidly expanding counties is publicly encouraging San Francisco to embrace a significant housing development, pushing back against local opposition. Assemblymember Joe Patterson, representing Placer County, stated that state laws are intended to enable large-scale construction in urban centers.
Patterson's comments came in response to resident pushback against a proposed mixed-use development at 15 Marina Boulevard in San Francisco's Marina District. The project, put forward by developer Align Real Estate, aims to add between 790 and 858 apartments, incorporating affordable units to leverage changes in state law that permit denser housing. Currently, a Safeway supermarket occupies the site.
Hundreds of residents reportedly attended a meeting to voice concerns, citing the development's scale as incompatible with the predominantly low-rise neighborhood. The proposed structure is described as U-shaped.
Patterson, whose Placer County was identified as the fastest-growing in California between 2025 and 2026 by the California Department of Finance, drew a parallel to his own region's growth. He noted that Placer County has experienced a significant influx of residents seeking more affordable living options, leading to the approval of numerous housing developments.
"Placer County has been one of the fastest growing counties in the state for many years, while people escape the urban core because they cant afford to live there," Patterson stated on X. He added, "We should be upzoning the hell out of our major cities."
Patterson also pointed to potential environmental consequences of continued suburban expansion, such as increased vehicle miles traveled, pollution, and longer commutes, contrasting this with the benefits of increased urban density.
San Francisco is currently under a state mandate to create 82,000 new housing units by 2031. The city is grappling with a severe affordability crisis, with median rents for one-bedroom apartments reportedly reaching $4,000 per month.
