It's not a "donation", because it's not NOMPY (Not On My PropertY); we're not talking about expropriation here. NIMBYs are opposed to other people/companies/the

It's not a "donation", because it's not NOMPY (Not On My PropertY); we're not talking about expropriation here. NIMBYs are opposed to other people/companies/the government doing what they want with their property. They're not taking from you in the form of a coerced donation, you're taking freedom from them. This applies to the financial perspective as well. Contra NIMBY fears, development increases property values. A plot of land where a developer can build an apartment is worth vastly more than one restricted to single family housing; a home close to amenities and well connected by transit is more desirable than one in the middle of nowhere, etc. A plot of land in New York City ain't cheap, and it's not because NIMBYs managed to keep it nice and quiet - it's precisely because the city was allowed to develop and densify. So, again, it's the NIMBYs taking from others (and themselves), not vice versa.