California to consider subsidizing cities to turn golf courses into affordable housing

Local governments in California are offering funding to those who want to convert their golf courses into affordable housing.

A new bill passed on Wednesday would establish a program to provide grants to local agencies to convert these golf courses.

According to Citizens Journal, Assembly Bill 1910, authored by Cristina Garcia, would give local agencies the ability to convert locally-owned golf courses into housing and public open space. This proposal states that golf course development must make 25% of new units affordable housing, and 15% of the development must be public open space.

The bill was passed in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee. Garcia said the bill would offer another tool for the state to use to address the housing crisis in Southern California.

Nearly 250 of the 1,100 golf courses in California are owned by local governments. Analysis showed that these golf courses could hold 375,000 housing units at moderate density.

Garcia said, “This is a voluntary program for municipally-owned golf courses for communities that want to look at the possibility of converting them into a combination of open space and affordable housing to help address two dire needs in our community.”

Nick Bailey, vice president of the Northern California PGA section, said, “AB 1910 causes considerably more harm than any possible housing good that might come from it.” Garcia’s bill was sent to the Assembly Committee on Local Government after the vote on Wednesday.