A Rising Tide

With the explosion of the super-affluent class from theSilicon Valley, Carmel, Sonoma and Truckee have seen a sharp increase inhousing costs as dot-commers are buying second and third houses in theseareas. Residents complain that it has changed the character of the smalltowns, with monster mansions replacing small cottages, and homes leftempty for a good part of the time. The surge of development has alsoleft a shortage of affordable housing, according to Greenbelt AllianceNorth Bay field representative AnnaLis Dalrymple. Dalrymple alsosuggests that putting pressure on local officials for strategic planningmay help the towns accommodate growth without compromising theircharacter.

Thanks to California 2000 Project