Re:What If Urban Sprawl Is the Only Realistic Way to Create ...
by sologoub on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @03:31PM
(#12500449)
The article fails to break out cost of building versus cost of litigating to be able to build. They mention the NIMBYs, but without putting dollar or % value on what costs they create.
Santa Monica and West LA are great examples - costs and rents have skyrocketed. However, much of the land is 1-2 stories, if that. Large portions of the housing stock is more than 50 years old.
If they were to make it 3-4 stories instead (hardly Manhattan density, or even SF), we could fit 2-3x people no problem. Unfortunately, between zoning, NIMBYs and rent control, you can pretty much forget about it.
Santa Monica and West LA are great examples - costs and rents have skyrocketed. However, much of the land is 1-2 stories, if that. Large portions of the housing stock is more than 50 years old.
If they were to make it 3-4 stories instead (hardly Manhattan density, or even SF), we could fit 2-3x people no problem. Unfortunately, between zoning, NIMBYs and rent control, you can pretty much forget about it.