4 ms·
You could easily encourage more affordable housing without tax incentives, but by simply repealing zoning restrictions. Let developers build denser structures
by paddy_m 13y ago
You could easily encourage more affordable housing without tax incentives, but by simply repealing zoning restrictions. Let developers build denser structures with less space per person, it would be cheaper. Also remove requirements like offsite parking minimums which also make new construction expensive.
- steveklabnik 13y agoHmm, dense structures, no zoning codes, where have I heard that before? Oh yeah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenement
- strlen 13y agoTo be fair, Silicon Valley's zoning codes are far too restrictive and don't serve broader public interest. For example, my city (Saratoga), prohibits multi-family dwellings in most places -- meaning affordable housing can't be built -- and sets minimum lot sizes in many zones (a way to raise prices). Palo Alto is also quite bad in this respect (particularly in the transit friendly downtown neighbourhood). Reducing NIMBY-esque/real-estate developer driven zoning strictures doesn't imply repealing public safety/health codes. It will actually be against my personal interest if these restrictions go away -- I happen to a own townhouse in one of few places in Saratoga where multi-family homes are allowed and big reason I did this, was to be able to convert it to a rental property (highly desirable in Saratoga -- an area known for its safety and schools -- as they're virtually non-existent) once we decide we want a bigger place. However, I'll be glade to trade a few hundred in rent income for a more dynamic and less grid-locked Silicon Valley.