Great article Aaron and thanks for providing the supply-side point of view. In your experience does the small-scaled, missing middle type of development pass affordability to the end-user? Do we really see a difference in housing costs for residents? With the way housing costs are rising it seems to me that single family housing are just as if not more expensive than multi family housing units.
I think Kronberg’s work proves that true affordability is contingent on staying in the residential code. There are exceptions to that but they’re rare. One of the most important things affordable housing advocates can do is expand the residential code to as many units as possible. In most of the country that’s two units. In North Carolina it’s four. And parts of Ohio it’s either eight or 12.
Builders may understand small and simple is the path to affordability, but this is not a characteristic of the supply siders. The most vocal YIMBYs are in love with high rises and maximizing production. I think most demand siders would be thrilled to see smaller and simpler bungalows and rowhouses for $200,000 in their cities and suburbs. In my experience, the divides between supply v demand, YIMBY v NIMBY and Left v Right do not break down neatly when it comes to housing.
Great article Aaron and thanks for providing the supply-side point of view. In your experience does the small-scaled, missing middle type of development pass affordability to the end-user? Do we really see a difference in housing costs for residents? With the way housing costs are rising it seems to me that single family housing are just as if not more expensive than multi family housing units.
I think Kronberg’s work proves that true affordability is contingent on staying in the residential code. There are exceptions to that but they’re rare. One of the most important things affordable housing advocates can do is expand the residential code to as many units as possible. In most of the country that’s two units. In North Carolina it’s four. And parts of Ohio it’s either eight or 12.
Builders may understand small and simple is the path to affordability, but this is not a characteristic of the supply siders. The most vocal YIMBYs are in love with high rises and maximizing production. I think most demand siders would be thrilled to see smaller and simpler bungalows and rowhouses for $200,000 in their cities and suburbs. In my experience, the divides between supply v demand, YIMBY v NIMBY and Left v Right do not break down neatly when it comes to housing.