EPS provides rigorous analysis and insightful solutions to address complex challenges in real estate development, land use policy, and local government finance. We are motivated by the role our work can play in shaping places where people live and we strive to create high-quality urban environments that advance the principles of diversity, resiliency, and shared prosperity.
EPS offers a wealth of experience, robust technical expertise, and the ability to offer insightful solutions to address the challenges and opportunities of urban development.
EPS recently partnered with the Terner Center for Housing Innovation and SPUR on a new study examining how California’s construction defect liability laws affect condominium development. Our analysis found that insurance costs for condo projects are often three to four times higher than for comparable rental developments—adding an estimated 2 to 4 percent to project hard costs and creating a barrier to new supply.
The report draws on insights from industry experts and highlights how liability-related costs, litigation, and insurance practices discourage condo construction. It also outlines potential policy reforms that could make it easier to build condominiums—an important entry point to homeownership for many households.
Read the Terner Center blog post and access the full EPS report.
Report authored by: Moody, Jason and Thomas Gonzales
EPS is pleased to announce that the City of Emeryville selected our team to prepare an Inclusionary Housing Policy and Development Impact Fee Update Study. The City originally adopted its Affordable Housing Set-Aside Ordinance in 1990 to address a shortage of affordable housing. While City housing policy has evolved over the years, the passage of AB1505 (2017) allowing municipalities to apply inclusionary housing requirements to rental units creates an opportunity for a more significant policy re-evaluation. And with the goal of ensuring housing policy and impact fees in combination do not significantly reduce investment, the City is taking on a comprehensive development impact fee update simultaneously. The study will evaluate policy options and fee levels, and will use real estate financial analysis to test real estate development feasibility effects. EPS is joined by Fehr & Peers, who are working on the City’s transportation fee as part of the study.
