I think it brings a lot of benefits," District 3 Councilmember Anthony Tordillos, a key backer of the reforms, told San José Spotlight. "It means that we can build multifamily housing on more small parcels - close to downtown, close to our transit networks - that are currently really difficult to build under the current building codes.
There is growing awareness around sustainability-and the environmental cost of prematurely demolishing safe, structurally sound buildings only to replace them with new construction. In the broader race to reduce carbon emissions, corporations and institutions are placing greater emphasis on ESG performance (environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance). Many now require carbon accounting, set " carbon-neutral" targets, or purchase carbon credits to offset footprints.
The Breslins purchased a home for $575,000 and invested $400,000 in unpermitted renovations, leading to the collapse of a $1.5 million sale. Avoiding permits to sidestep costly requirements backfired for the Breslins, leading to a ruling that they fraudulently concealed the unpermitted work. Despite major defects uncovered during a home inspection, the Breslins failed to disclose issues to subsequent buyers, resulting in legal repercussions.
