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Austin prohibits adequate housing from being built: https://austin.curbed.com/2020/1/30/21115370/austin-housing-development-missing-middle-affordability-zoning

Austin prohibits adequate housing from being built: https://austin.curbed.com/2020/1/30/21115370/austin-housing-development-missing-middle-affordability-zoning https://austin.curbed.com/2020/1/30/21115370/austin-housing-..., which is likely driving up the cost of living in the city—just like California. Without liberalizing zoning laws, Austin will likely continue to see the exact same effects as California. This can be changed: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16704501 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16704501 if enough people want it to change.

rossdavidh 6y ago
While Austin's zoning laws could definitely be better, there is tons of housing being built even now. I see large numbers being built at the edge of town. Not saying there's not problems, especially for new construction in old neighborhoods, but it's not like there isn't a lot of construction happening.
- bgorman 6y ago
  Building large numbers of housing at the edge of town isn't the solution. It is the core problem with American city planning.
  - ZoomerCretin 6y ago
    Sprawl is an environmental disaster. On top of land-use changes, it also causes longer commutes, both of which produce more CO2 than upzoning and densifying city centers. Unfortunately, it's in most property owners' best financial interests to rent-seek by blocking any new development, especially considering Texas passed our own version of California's disastrous Proposition 13 in the last legislative session.
    - lawnchair_larry 6y ago
      Has nothing to do with rent seeking. Density ruins neighborhoods.
      - tomnipotent 6y ago
        > Density ruins neighborhoods Can you give examples?
        dragonwriter 6y ago
        Well, for one, while there are some conflicting results, there is lots of research pointing to high-density housing leading to elevated rates of violent crime. e.g., https://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/13030.html https://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/13030.html
        splithalf 6y ago
        Increased traffic and related issues if housing is added without new roads, traffic signals, etc... Increased 911 response times, food deserts and the related social problems, air quality problems for increased traffic and so on. Tnstaafl
        lawnchair_larry 6y ago
        We can’t let our kids and our dogs out in the yard to play. This is hugely valuable to some people, and it’s why they chose the neighborhoods that they did. You probably got to do that as a kid. Nothing to do with rent seeking. The only thing increased property value does is make property tax and excise tax go up. Nobody cares about that. We don’t want a condo building dropped on both sides of us. Who would?
        jgwil2 6y ago
        Can you explain how having buildings erected on adjacent (i.e. not your) property prevents you from using your yard however you want?
      - lwansbrough 6y ago
        Found the NIMBY!
      - klipt 6y ago
  - barbacoa 6y ago
    They are also building high rise residential building in the city center including numerous 50+ story residential skyscrapers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Austin,_Texas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_A...
  - rossdavidh 6y ago
    You're not wrong, but the main obstacle is legal (lawsuits), so it's either build nothing, or build at the edge of town. But there is some high-density stuff in the center of town in the last 10 years or so.
- igetspam 6y ago
  It's true. There are subdivisions going up everywhere in Hays and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. And you can't be more in the nose than a place called "Caliterra" unless you called it "CA Expats Welcome Here." I have 2.8 unrestricted acres in Driftwood that I bought a year ago and after I sell the other house I tent out in a Subdivision up the road, I'll squat in this alone until I can avoid the capital gains and likely sell it for a significant profit. The greater Austin area is exploding with houses and it still can't meet demand. They sell fast and generally over asking, even in the off season and during a pandemic.
maxcan 6y ago
This is one reason why I'm bullish on Miami. Miami has to be the most YIMBY-friendly city in the US. I moved here last November and the density is so wonderful. I'm pretty sure that I can see more 40+ story buildings from my balcony in Brickell than exist in Northern California.
- rectang 6y ago
  Sure, why hold back when it's going to be washed away by rising seas anyway? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/miami-is-the-most-vulnerable-coastal-city-worldwide/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/miami-is-the-most... > Miami Is the "Most Vulnerable" Coastal City Worldwide
  - vagrantJin 6y ago
    Thats some negativity.
  - maxcan 6y ago
    They already have a massive pumping infrastructure due to seasonal flooding unrelated to global warming. The local and county governments, unlike the SFBA, are not completely dysfunctional and TBH I trust Miami city and Miami-Dade County to handle global warming induced flooding more than I trust the City of San Francisco to handle a sunny spring day with no issues. Also, the Dutch figured out how to live with cities below sea level 300 years ago, we'll manage.
    - Fern_Blossom 6y ago
      Floridian here, travelled the country for about a decade and came back to Florida the past few years. Until you see how other state, county and municipality governments function, you can't really appreciate how well Florida gov generally works. When growing up in Florida, I was led to believe it was the most backward ass state in the country. Didn't help I also lived in a rural county. After living in half a dozen states in a decade (and visiting many more for long periods)... no. Florida has its shit together compared to most other states. Are there problems here, absolutely. But no where near as bad as other states. Especially when it comes to environmental planning and protection. Still some problems in the Everglades area with some fucktards, but on a whole, environmentalism is more active here than anywhere else. Just the news coverage is dismal. While I'm on the Space Coast, you're right to not be that worried in Miami. Plus, there are massive seawall projects that are supposed to start soon if they haven't already. I know they were planned for 2020, but the whole covid thing through a monkeywrench in that. Last I read, there's some $20b being spent in the Miami-Dade area in the next decade all in response to climate change. A lot of the infrastructure is getting reworked, along with water management. It's like people think we're surprised that nature can kill us. We "worry" about it half of the year, every year. We welcome the challenge... as long as we stock up on alcohol. Then bring it on. But if those liquor stores close, it's panic time.
Balgair 6y ago
Boulder as well. The greenbelt and height limits are pushing properties in Boulder proper into SF-Bay prices. The surrounding cities are also feeling the push too. The whole Front Range housing market is going bonkers (relative to 'normal') with appraisal gaps of ~$80k that buyers are paying outright, no inspections, 10 day closing times. It's bananas.

rossdavidh 6y ago

While Austin's zoning laws could definitely be better, there is tons of housing being built even now. I see large numbers being built at the edge of town. Not saying there's not problems, especially for new construction in old neighborhoods, but it's not like there isn't a lot of construction happening.

bgorman 6y ago
Building large numbers of housing at the edge of town isn't the solution. It is the core problem with American city planning.
- ZoomerCretin 6y ago
  Sprawl is an environmental disaster. On top of land-use changes, it also causes longer commutes, both of which produce more CO2 than upzoning and densifying city centers. Unfortunately, it's in most property owners' best financial interests to rent-seek by blocking any new development, especially considering Texas passed our own version of California's disastrous Proposition 13 in the last legislative session.
  - lawnchair_larry 6y ago
    Has nothing to do with rent seeking. Density ruins neighborhoods.
    - tomnipotent 6y ago
      > Density ruins neighborhoods Can you give examples?
      - dragonwriter 6y ago
        Well, for one, while there are some conflicting results, there is lots of research pointing to high-density housing leading to elevated rates of violent crime. e.g., https://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/13030.html https://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/13030.html
        splithalf 6y ago
        Increased traffic and related issues if housing is added without new roads, traffic signals, etc... Increased 911 response times, food deserts and the related social problems, air quality problems for increased traffic and so on. Tnstaafl
      - lawnchair_larry 6y ago
        We can’t let our kids and our dogs out in the yard to play. This is hugely valuable to some people, and it’s why they chose the neighborhoods that they did. You probably got to do that as a kid. Nothing to do with rent seeking. The only thing increased property value does is make property tax and excise tax go up. Nobody cares about that. We don’t want a condo building dropped on both sides of us. Who would?
        jgwil2 6y ago
        Can you explain how having buildings erected on adjacent (i.e. not your) property prevents you from using your yard however you want?
    - lwansbrough 6y ago
      Found the NIMBY!
    - klipt 6y ago
- barbacoa 6y ago
  They are also building high rise residential building in the city center including numerous 50+ story residential skyscrapers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Austin,_Texas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_A...
- rossdavidh 6y ago
  You're not wrong, but the main obstacle is legal (lawsuits), so it's either build nothing, or build at the edge of town. But there is some high-density stuff in the center of town in the last 10 years or so.
igetspam 6y ago
It's true. There are subdivisions going up everywhere in Hays and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. And you can't be more in the nose than a place called "Caliterra" unless you called it "CA Expats Welcome Here." I have 2.8 unrestricted acres in Driftwood that I bought a year ago and after I sell the other house I tent out in a Subdivision up the road, I'll squat in this alone until I can avoid the capital gains and likely sell it for a significant profit. The greater Austin area is exploding with houses and it still can't meet demand. They sell fast and generally over asking, even in the off season and during a pandemic.

maxcan 6y ago

This is one reason why I'm bullish on Miami. Miami has to be the most YIMBY-friendly city in the US. I moved here last November and the density is so wonderful. I'm pretty sure that I can see more 40+ story buildings from my balcony in Brickell than exist in Northern California.

rectang 6y ago
Sure, why hold back when it's going to be washed away by rising seas anyway? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/miami-is-the-most-vulnerable-coastal-city-worldwide/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/miami-is-the-most... > Miami Is the "Most Vulnerable" Coastal City Worldwide
- vagrantJin 6y ago
  Thats some negativity.
- maxcan 6y ago
  They already have a massive pumping infrastructure due to seasonal flooding unrelated to global warming. The local and county governments, unlike the SFBA, are not completely dysfunctional and TBH I trust Miami city and Miami-Dade County to handle global warming induced flooding more than I trust the City of San Francisco to handle a sunny spring day with no issues. Also, the Dutch figured out how to live with cities below sea level 300 years ago, we'll manage.
  - Fern_Blossom 6y ago
    Floridian here, travelled the country for about a decade and came back to Florida the past few years. Until you see how other state, county and municipality governments function, you can't really appreciate how well Florida gov generally works. When growing up in Florida, I was led to believe it was the most backward ass state in the country. Didn't help I also lived in a rural county. After living in half a dozen states in a decade (and visiting many more for long periods)... no. Florida has its shit together compared to most other states. Are there problems here, absolutely. But no where near as bad as other states. Especially when it comes to environmental planning and protection. Still some problems in the Everglades area with some fucktards, but on a whole, environmentalism is more active here than anywhere else. Just the news coverage is dismal. While I'm on the Space Coast, you're right to not be that worried in Miami. Plus, there are massive seawall projects that are supposed to start soon if they haven't already. I know they were planned for 2020, but the whole covid thing through a monkeywrench in that. Last I read, there's some $20b being spent in the Miami-Dade area in the next decade all in response to climate change. A lot of the infrastructure is getting reworked, along with water management. It's like people think we're surprised that nature can kill us. We "worry" about it half of the year, every year. We welcome the challenge... as long as we stock up on alcohol. Then bring it on. But if those liquor stores close, it's panic time.

Balgair 6y ago

Boulder as well. The greenbelt and height limits are pushing properties in Boulder proper into SF-Bay prices. The surrounding cities are also feeling the push too. The whole Front Range housing market is going bonkers (relative to 'normal') with appraisal gaps of ~$80k that buyers are paying outright, no inspections, 10 day closing times. It's bananas.