A new Harvard analysis finds people across income levels got squeezed by rent hikes during the pandemic. The market has lost millions of low-rent places, and new construction is mostly high-end.
I have unironically seen this as the solution in dozens of housing threads.
It always follows the same path.
“We need to build high density housing everywhere”
Every new high rise that has been built hasn’t lowered the cost of existing buildings. The new buildings are always “luxury” condos and sell at outrageousprices. Also, the infrastructure (roads / utilities) needs to be vastly expanded to handle higher density.
“That’s because they’re being built too slowly. If a bunch came out at once, that would low prices”
Yes, and that’s why builders would never build a ton of units all at once. They would stagger them on the market to get the highest possible prices.
“OK, then the government should build high density low income housing”
… like projects? Do you know any history at all?
“Also infrastructure doesn’t need upgrading if everyone rides bikes”
What, like the low cost medium and high density construction that many European and Eastern block countries used to house their populations. It helps if you don’t intend to stuff them with the poor and disenfranchised and then ignore them from the outset.
time to bring back the projects?
I have unironically seen this as the solution in dozens of housing threads.
It always follows the same path.
“We need to build high density housing everywhere”
Every new high rise that has been built hasn’t lowered the cost of existing buildings. The new buildings are always “luxury” condos and sell at outrageousprices. Also, the infrastructure (roads / utilities) needs to be vastly expanded to handle higher density.
“That’s because they’re being built too slowly. If a bunch came out at once, that would low prices”
Yes, and that’s why builders would never build a ton of units all at once. They would stagger them on the market to get the highest possible prices.
“OK, then the government should build high density low income housing”
… like projects? Do you know any history at all?
“Also infrastructure doesn’t need upgrading if everyone rides bikes”
/exit thread
I love it. Perfectly captures the naivety and inexperience shown in so many threads on all platforms around this topic.
Ideal solutions are great. But reality tends to get in the way.
So whats then, we do nothing at all?
What, like the low cost medium and high density construction that many European and Eastern block countries used to house their populations. It helps if you don’t intend to stuff them with the poor and disenfranchised and then ignore them from the outset.