“If the Bay Area were a country, its $748 billion GDP in 2017 would qualify it as the 19th largest economy in the world.”
That’s one of the more jaw-dropping data points presented in the Bay Area Council Economic Institute’s recently-released profile of the local economy.
Naturally, massive job creation, particularly in Silicon Valley, has played a big role. Mentioned in the report, or course, was Apple’s expansion with its newly built Cupertino campus, Google’s plans for a transit-oriented village near San Jose’s Diridon Station, and continued Facebook continued growth in Menlo Park and San Francisco.
All of this is good to hear. But the report isn’t quite giving the Bay Area a standing ovation. It also mentions familiar challenges impacting local communities: housing and transportation. Without adequate options in both areas, can the Bay Area continue to thrive?
“As of the drafting of this report, the median price of a single-family home in San Francisco is over $1.6 million, a year-over-year increase of 24-percent, while median prices in San Jose are nearing $1.1 million, an increase of 22-percent.”
The report recommends smart development with affordable housing at all levels near transit hubs, and the protection of existing open spaces.
“Protecting open space, while at the same time accommodating growth in ways that make housing affordable for people at all income levels, can ensure that the Bay Area remains economically resilient, sustainable, and equitable,” according to the report.