It boggles the mind to think that anyone can possibly think of Olympics as doing anything more than throwing taxpayer money straight down the toilet. Of course vendors and real estate agents do not give a damn about the long-term consequences as long as a quick buck can be made.

The Silicon Valley is the biggest source of economic hope and optimism in the Bay Area. It’s “where the jobs are” and it’s part of what makes this part of the world special and unique. As such, it has become our sacred cow. Stock prices only go up, home prices only go up, and everything will be greener, richer, smarter and better. If there was ever a place convinced that it was immune from an economic downturn, it is Silicon Valley.

As the building industry continues to slowly recover from its most prolonged downturn since The Great Depression, the good news is that it appears a minor thaw may be finally beginning in the credit and equity markets. The bad news is that the rules of the game have changed so profoundly that not all players will be able to adjust accordingly.

With the collapse of the housing market, development of new land for housing has come to a much-needed halt. As builders try and unload extra land, conservation groups are buying up precious parcels. The San Francisco Chronicle reports Developers’ bust proves a boon for land trusts It was a joyous day for the boyish Vink, [...]

Just what we need…more houses. The Contra Costa Times reports Bay Area cities to plan for 600,000 new households over the next 25 years, planners say As more and more people live in the region, opportunities are dwindling to effectively plan for the growth in a way that reduces traffic, energy costs and environmental damage, [...]