Comment by cyberax

> The flophouses and dorms and SROs were a key part of the housing market that kept Manhattan more affordable and therefore livable in the 20th century, when density was up to 40% greater than it is now.

???? Can you provide the citation for higher density in the early 20th century?

> I live here. The thing making Manhattan unlivable is that a one-bedroom is $4500 in the east village due to not enough supply.

And there is never going to be enough supply. Your only choice is to Detroitify your city.

"Just build more" in Manhattan is beyond ridiculous. It's literally the definition of madness: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result".