From 2014-2018, Santa Monica issued permits allowing 12 multifamily units[0]. Since the builder's remedy is forcing the city's hand, applications for over 4000 new units have been submitted.
Construction costs are a thing, but the blocking of new construction is absolutely real.
I think everyone understands this barrier already, it's well discussed and my point was not to diminish the well-known challenges to the problem. The economic reasons I mentioned are another (much less discussed) angle that most people just aren't even aware of and is absolutely a barrier to large scale housing development.
Construction costs are a thing, but the blocking of new construction is absolutely real.
[0]: https://smdp.com/2022/11/07/santa-monicas-builders-remedy-ex...