4 ms·

> Specifically, housing affordability is 100%, entirely, a problem of artificial constraints on supply by city councils. Not just city councils. Residents, env

> Specifically, housing affordability is 100%, entirely, a problem of artificial constraints on supply by city councils. Not just city councils. Residents, environmental groups, and special interest groups controlled by residents have a huge influence on limiting housing through legislation as well. Often places where housing is approved by the city are stalled in courts for years. City councils can control some of the lawsuits by reforming local laws but there is a huge number of individual residents who are willing to spend absurd amounts of money preventing people from building a new 6 unit apartment at the end of the block.

rch 7y ago
It's worth noting that some of the groups you mention are motivated by a general opposition to rent seeking developers, and would be perfectly amenable to a 6 unit resident-owned coop in the same location.
- sagarm 7y ago
  Are those residents going to build that 6-unit themselves?
  - rch 7y ago
    Yes actually.
- ogre_codes 7y ago
  Nobody ever says "I just don't want a new housing unit there". Every single one of those groups has some kind of justification for why they don't want new housing near where they are. Some say it's to prevent "Rent Seeking Developers", some say it's to improve the quality of local parks, sometimes it's because the unit they are replacing adds some "special character" to their block. In the end though they all have the exact same goal and same effect. It's all NIMBY bullshit, everyone is for affordable/ new housing unless it impacts them in the tiniest way, then suddenly they are against it.
  - dmix 7y ago
    A big one is they don't want additional underground parking in their neighbourhood which means more cars. Of course cars are evil and they should not exist or be in someone else neighbourhood, parked along side-streets next to bike lanes. Better yet keep those cars in the suburbs! But also suburbs are lame and we make fun of them (I would never be caught living there!). But yeah back to why I dont want more housing downtown... /s

rch 7y ago

It's worth noting that some of the groups you mention are motivated by a general opposition to rent seeking developers, and would be perfectly amenable to a 6 unit resident-owned coop in the same location.

sagarm 7y ago
Are those residents going to build that 6-unit themselves?
- rch 7y ago
  Yes actually.
ogre_codes 7y ago
Nobody ever says "I just don't want a new housing unit there". Every single one of those groups has some kind of justification for why they don't want new housing near where they are. Some say it's to prevent "Rent Seeking Developers", some say it's to improve the quality of local parks, sometimes it's because the unit they are replacing adds some "special character" to their block. In the end though they all have the exact same goal and same effect. It's all NIMBY bullshit, everyone is for affordable/ new housing unless it impacts them in the tiniest way, then suddenly they are against it.
- dmix 7y ago
  A big one is they don't want additional underground parking in their neighbourhood which means more cars. Of course cars are evil and they should not exist or be in someone else neighbourhood, parked along side-streets next to bike lanes. Better yet keep those cars in the suburbs! But also suburbs are lame and we make fun of them (I would never be caught living there!). But yeah back to why I dont want more housing downtown... /s