Comment by unyttigfjelltol
2 days ago
Yeah, all the politicians talking housing— the actual net governmental effect on housing is to massively constrain supply (quantity) in service of rather arbitrary qualitative standards. I’m all for “the building shouldn’t spontaneously collapse” standards, but … two acre lots? Restrictions on casting shadows? Accessory dwelling units? Nah. If the government wants to make a difference it should ban Euclidian zoning as it currently is practiced, full stop.
These qualitative standards are subjective. Everyone has something that they deem essential and others not so much. A lot of zoning regulations is the amalgamation of preferences by different people, because they try to satisfy the aesthetic preferences of too many people.
For example in New York City go take a walk in the streets next to hundred-year-old skyscrapers in downtown. It’s miserable to me. Now go walk alongside midcentury skyscrapers in midtown. It’s much better. The difference is entirely because of shadows cast by the skyscrapers. The visceral reaction from shadows is so strong to me that I am wholeheartedly supporting restrictions on casting shadows.
Now on two-acre lots. That’s not something I care about. Even 0.1 acres of land is too much maintenance for me. But it will be non-negotiable for someone else.
Millions of people want to live in NYC and would productively contribute to the city if it were more affordable.
The government should not criminalize development that would make housing more affordable over your preference on shadows!
It's a negative externality, yes, but it's a trivial one next to the upside of cheaper housing for more people!
At one end of the extreme unlimitedly cheap housing leads to slums, ghettos, and crime. Such housing is not worth building because it costs the city more in reputation and police force. Take a look at Kowloon walled city for an example of cheap construction without regulations.
So there has to be a line. Different people just draw the line differently. For me the issue on shadows is that these fancy buildings make the streets next to them dark and ghetto-like.
"We expect all states to expand housing supply by 2% per year. States which fail to meet this standard will pay $1000 per unbuilt house per year, as a subtraction from other federal funding. States may trade house building with other states to achieve this.".