Vacant stores will become homes more easily under new California laws
Local government officials say the laws undermine their authority and cut their tax base, but it's a long-sought win for affordable housing advocates, who say such sites are ready-made for apartments.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — They've become a familiar sight along the wide commercial corridors of America — empty buildings once filled by big retailers who have closed their doors, in part because many of their customers shop online.
Now, two new laws in California would let developers build housing on that land and largely prevent revenue-hungry local governments from stopping them.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two laws Wednesday that would open up much of the state's commercial land for
