It definitely is if you were to use it. In either case, as a public institution there may be a cap on the cost of these spots, and should be required reading for any critique/support of the Berkeley student impact on housing prices in Berkeley.
Typically these articles paint a picture of students rolling in as if they were forced into a 3000/mo condo.
Coach house airbnbs and one off rentals could be great or terrible. In either case I think its hard to argue this would get rents to go down.
My personal bet is the proliferation of these cute backyard dwellings would actually make rents go higher because these would go for a premium over 50 year old crummy spots.
I've lived in downtown berkeley for five years and pay 1100 per month for a studio apartment.
For those arguing that the city could zone and facilitate building affordable non subsidized housing, where exactly would it be built?
There isn't an abundance of empty lots AFAIK and it seems enormous highrises would have to be built in large numbers to make any dent in having prices come down.
I would love more options but without even mildly specific suggestions articles like these seem to lack any pragmatism.
Typically these articles paint a picture of students rolling in as if they were forced into a 3000/mo condo.