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I don't think the solution is as simple as 'building more housing'(aka giving permits). It would drive down the prices somewhat, but what's to stop more enginee

I don't think the solution is as simple as 'building more housing'(aka giving permits). It would drive down the prices somewhat, but what's to stop more engineers from moving in/shortening their own commutes etc? I think the term we're looking for is 'build low-income housing'. That would make it more likely that people who need it get it.

selectodude 12y ago
More people want to live there? Awesome, build even more. Demand is not infinite. Ever.
- benten10 12y ago
  Right. Now imagine you live in one of those cities. You're living comfortable as an engineer, etcetera. You have a community going on. Your city has its budget, its school system and so on. The city wants to allow permits to build as many houses as it can to drive the low enough to make them affordable for the homeless. Bear in mind you live in a very attractive part of the country, so homeless will be driven out of the market very quickly. That's a LOT of units. There are only limited public resources, and they can expand only so fast. If you care even a bit about community around the place you live, you know having tens/hundreds of thousands of people (who are likely not going to be long-time residents) moving straight in couple of years is not a good idea. You're going to vote against the city granting those permits. One would rather the city build low-income housing then let the swamped by new transplants.
- Lawtonfogle 12y ago
  It may not be infinite, but it is often larger than supply.
  - selectodude 12y ago
    It's only larger than supply when you make it illegal to build enough housing to satiate demand.
nsnick 12y ago
Why would you build low income housing that excludes people in the middle? All low income housing does is creates two tiers of housing prices and if you are at the low end of the income scale and do not qualify for the low income housing, you are even more screwed than you otherwise would be. The solution is to build more housing that lowers everyone's rent.
chrischen 12y ago
Because engineers aren't moving here for the amazing housing. They're moving here for the jobs. If you're increasing housing, that doesn't affect the jobs available. It would decrease demand on housing without increasing demand by engineers.
- kmhn 12y ago
  Most of the engineers I work with live very far out, to find affordable housing/good school districts. If denser housing allowed them to afford to live closer to their job, they would. I agree with increasing building density, but there is a large group already employed in SV/SF that will move into that housing from a 4hr radius around the area. Still would be interested to see a projection that would model this possibility. Good modeling of the possible outcomes is the first step on the rocky road to getting Bay Area zoning changed. Not holding my breath.
Kalium 12y ago
What if the answer is as simple as "Build more housing for everyone"? Build enough, and there is affordable housing for everyone. Engineers need places to live too.

selectodude 12y ago

More people want to live there? Awesome, build even more. Demand is not infinite. Ever.

benten10 12y ago
Right. Now imagine you live in one of those cities. You're living comfortable as an engineer, etcetera. You have a community going on. Your city has its budget, its school system and so on. The city wants to allow permits to build as many houses as it can to drive the low enough to make them affordable for the homeless. Bear in mind you live in a very attractive part of the country, so homeless will be driven out of the market very quickly. That's a LOT of units. There are only limited public resources, and they can expand only so fast. If you care even a bit about community around the place you live, you know having tens/hundreds of thousands of people (who are likely not going to be long-time residents) moving straight in couple of years is not a good idea. You're going to vote against the city granting those permits. One would rather the city build low-income housing then let the swamped by new transplants.
Lawtonfogle 12y ago
It may not be infinite, but it is often larger than supply.
- selectodude 12y ago
  It's only larger than supply when you make it illegal to build enough housing to satiate demand.

nsnick 12y ago

Why would you build low income housing that excludes people in the middle? All low income housing does is creates two tiers of housing prices and if you are at the low end of the income scale and do not qualify for the low income housing, you are even more screwed than you otherwise would be. The solution is to build more housing that lowers everyone's rent.

chrischen 12y ago

Because engineers aren't moving here for the amazing housing. They're moving here for the jobs. If you're increasing housing, that doesn't affect the jobs available. It would decrease demand on housing without increasing demand by engineers.

kmhn 12y ago
Most of the engineers I work with live very far out, to find affordable housing/good school districts. If denser housing allowed them to afford to live closer to their job, they would. I agree with increasing building density, but there is a large group already employed in SV/SF that will move into that housing from a 4hr radius around the area. Still would be interested to see a projection that would model this possibility. Good modeling of the possible outcomes is the first step on the rocky road to getting Bay Area zoning changed. Not holding my breath.

Kalium 12y ago

What if the answer is as simple as "Build more housing for everyone"? Build enough, and there is affordable housing for everyone. Engineers need places to live too.