Orange County Business & Commercial Law Blog

From marriages to car purchases, people are always looking for the security of legal contracts. When parties back out of arrangements that have not yet been made official, there is little recourse except to learn a lesson and move on. When it comes to massive projects like building a skyscraper, contracts are usually signed before the work is even planned, adding a layer of protection for builders.

Contract disputes are mostly settled out of court, with options for mediation with a conflict resolution professional or a settlement out of court before a jury would render a verdict. But a recent study shows that contract disputes in construction cases are getting longer and harder to solve.

California is on the rise. In fact, conditions for many people in the Golden State have been so good for so long that it seems its rise will never stop. But the growth of the economy is bringing its own problems, and construction may be the solution once the government in Sacramento makes changes.

A bill in the state Senate is designed to encourage home building by requiring cities to relax any zoning restrictions within a certain distance of mass transit stops and terminuses. Another provision would require wealthier communities to allow for more apartments regardless of proximity to mass transit.

Los Angeles is undergoing a critical moment with its housing development. While cities in southern California and the Bay Area are seeking to solve housing shortages with innovative developments, some lawmakers in the City of Angels is trying to keep the character of its outlying neighborhoods.

The government in Sacramento has passed several statewide laws, such as Senate Bill 50, easing some municipalities' path to compact and affordable housing near transit hubs. This approach has been lauded as the most efficient and sustainable way to keep California's growth on track without contributing to overcrowding and longer commutes. But at least one city council member in Los Angeles opposes these laws.

Transit by road or rail was California's big issue during the end of the 20th century, but now the big challenge is creating enough housing for a growing number of residents and workers. The governor in Sacramento has set the goal of having 3.5 million new housing units in the Golden State in the next six years.

One of the main drivers of new residential construction in California has been the belief that dense housing near transit centers is the best solution. However, a recent study claims that the price of units in these key areas has increased while the number of available units has not.