Davis has experienced a decline in its young adult population due to a policy of restrictive growth, resulting in a lack of housing for younger families and a potential impact on the local K-12 schools.
The data from the City of Davis’ housing production report shows that the city has built very little housing overall, particularly ownership housing, and that increasing housing supply is one of the most practical ways to address affordability pressures.
The City of Davis has issued permits for 805 single-family homes, 1,596 multi-family rental units, 262 accessory dwelling units, and 155 multi-family ownership units over the past 17 years, with a significant decrease in housing production in 2025 compared to recent years.
Davis voters must decide whether to approve the Village Farms Davis development, which would add 1,800 housing units to the city, in order to address the city’s housing shortage and affordability crisis, while balancing environmental and infrastructure concerns.
The housing debate in Davis is being reshaped by the potential closure of local schools due to declining enrollment, which is tied to the city’s housing market, prompting a petition to form a community advisory committee to examine potential school closures and potentially changing the narrative of future housing proposals.
The Davis City Council voted to clarify language in the city’s inclusionary housing ordinance to ensure that land dedication is accompanied by sufficient resources to realistically allow affordable housing units to be constructed.
The City of Davis is proposing an ordinance amendment that would require developers who dedicate land for affordable housing to also provide financial resources to ensure the homes are actually constructed.
The political fight over Measure V and the proposed Village Farms project has been marked by dueling polls, with both sides refusing to release the full survey questions, leading to accusations of bias and dishonesty from opponents.
A survey released by the Village Farms project team found that 61% of likely Davis voters would vote “Yes” on Measure V, which will appear on the June 2 ballot, after hearing detailed information about the project.
The proposed Affordable Housing Plan for the Willowgrove development in Davis, California is advancing through city review, with the Social Services Commission set to consider its approval.
The average rent for apartments in Davis declined 1.8% from fall 2024 to fall 2025, due to the addition of thousands of new student housing beds, with the blended average monthly rent now at $2,711.
The Village Farms Davis project has been falsely accused of having adverse environmental impacts, but data and facts show that it is designed to meet or exceed environmental standards and will not have any significant negative effects on the surrounding area.
The Davis City Council discussed the need to revisit assumptions regarding population targets, housing density, and transportation infrastructure before moving forward with peripheral development plans.
The Davis City Council will review a consultant report that assumes a sprawling land-use pattern and then demonstrates that the roads and transit network needed to support it will be problematic, providing a cautionary worst-case scenario for Davis voters to react to.
The City Council is considering changes to the Village Farms Affordable Housing agreement, including clarification of the deed restricted permanently affordable units, reduction of acreage requirements, and the possibility of rental units instead of ownership units.
Measure J, while presented as democratic, actually excludes marginalized and disadvantaged people from having a say in housing policy, resulting in a system that is biased towards those already in the housing market.
The proposed Village Farms development in Davis is being voted on in June, and the decision could have implications for the city’s future, including school enrollment, housing costs, and the ability to retain the next generation of families.
The Davis City Council will discuss the feasibility of a large-scale northeast growth concept, considering its transportation demands, costs and long-term fiscal implications, as outlined in a report by Fehr & Peers.
Measure J has been in place for 25 years and has resulted in a lack of housing, increased costs, and a failure to meet the city’s needs, leading to a call for a reevaluation of the system.
Measure J has been in place for 25 years and has not produced better projects or outcomes, instead resulting in a slow-motion stalemate and growing vulnerability for Davis.