4 ms·

A major problem in American cities is what's called "contraception zoning." It's a de facto and sometimes de jure ban on large (as in 4 or more bedroom) apartme

A major problem in American cities is what's called "contraception zoning." It's a de facto and sometimes de jure ban on large (as in 4 or more bedroom) apartments.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
fountainofage 7y ago
Could you expand on this? I've never met a couple that could afford a 4 bedroom apartment on their own, so I'm not sure how allowing even larger apartments solves anything?
- ocschwar 7y ago
  The reason you can't afford a 4 bedroom apartment when you can afford a HOUSE is that large apartments are rare in American cities, because municipal governments do everything to prevent them from being built. The few that exist were built mostly before WW2, and are rented to students. In other countries, large apartments are plentiful, and they are cheaper than houses the same size, because of economies of scale.
osdiab 7y ago
Similarly cities often have overly restrictive minimum housing sizes as well, often induced by low-density zoning, parking requirements, or other laws. That makes economical, tiny apartments for singles/childless couples scarce; so naturally you end up doing what me and almost all my friends in SF do, which is rent out a much larger apartment than you need (3+ bedrooms), probably under rent control because only old buildings are built that way and that's what SF rent control law applies to, and split it between a bunch of roommates. This constricts the larger apartment housing stock for families, and especially if you're living in the same room as someone else, probably makes your ability to cultivate a romantic relationship harder, too. This adds up to - American cities ban units both large and small that allow a city to function properly; they simultaneously tend to dramatically underbuild housing altogether for the demand to live in these cities; and then we wonder why, given how prohibitively expensive it is to live in an American city, that they tend to have serious social problems and only the most tolerant/flexible to stressful situations—i.e. the most privileged—can afford and profit from living in them. One thing I'm struck by living in Tokyo recently, aside seeing way more children than I ever do in SF (against all odds given the low birth rates), is that you can get a small studio for not much money - you'd be lucky to find one in SF within 30 minutes of the city for less than $2,500, but you can get one 15-20 mins from the hottest neighborhoods in Tokyo for like $500-$700. They'll be much smaller, but the lifestyle is also more space-efficient, so I find it to work for my needs as a 27 year old.

A major problem in American cities is what's called "contraception zoning." It's a de facto and sometimes de jure ban on large (as in 4 or more bedroom) apartments.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

fountainofage 7y ago

Could you expand on this? I've never met a couple that could afford a 4 bedroom apartment on their own, so I'm not sure how allowing even larger apartments solves anything?

ocschwar 7y ago
The reason you can't afford a 4 bedroom apartment when you can afford a HOUSE is that large apartments are rare in American cities, because municipal governments do everything to prevent them from being built. The few that exist were built mostly before WW2, and are rented to students. In other countries, large apartments are plentiful, and they are cheaper than houses the same size, because of economies of scale.

osdiab 7y ago

Similarly cities often have overly restrictive minimum housing sizes as well, often induced by low-density zoning, parking requirements, or other laws. That makes economical, tiny apartments for singles/childless couples scarce; so naturally you end up doing what me and almost all my friends in SF do, which is rent out a much larger apartment than you need (3+ bedrooms), probably under rent control because only old buildings are built that way and that's what SF rent control law applies to, and split it between a bunch of roommates. This constricts the larger apartment housing stock for families, and especially if you're living in the same room as someone else, probably makes your ability to cultivate a romantic relationship harder, too. This adds up to - American cities ban units both large and small that allow a city to function properly; they simultaneously tend to dramatically underbuild housing altogether for the demand to live in these cities; and then we wonder why, given how prohibitively expensive it is to live in an American city, that they tend to have serious social problems and only the most tolerant/flexible to stressful situations—i.e. the most privileged—can afford and profit from living in them. One thing I'm struck by living in Tokyo recently, aside seeing way more children than I ever do in SF (against all odds given the low birth rates), is that you can get a small studio for not much money - you'd be lucky to find one in SF within 30 minutes of the city for less than $2,500, but you can get one 15-20 mins from the hottest neighborhoods in Tokyo for like $500-$700. They'll be much smaller, but the lifestyle is also more space-efficient, so I find it to work for my needs as a 27 year old.