Kate Wagner argues that moral arguments about what kind of architecture is fitting, can stand in the way of good planning.

Are skin-deep moral judgements fueling the housing affordability crisis?
Kate Wagner says architecture is a scapegoat for bigger problems with housing in cities. Arguing that both NIMBYs and YIMBYs see a moral component to the aesthetics they prefer. "Aesthetic moralism is unfortunately trenchant in the urban housing debate, usually on the NIMBY side, which often argues that new housing destroys 'neighborhood character,'" Wagner writes in Common Edge. This causes conflict when the need should dictate the look or type of development. "Affordable mid and high-rise towers are the most effective way to house the greatest number of people on the smallest parcel of land, something that’s desperately needed in places like San Francisco, where the value of land is so high," Wagner writes.
Still the left can fall victim to aesthetic moralism as well, by vilifying modern developments. "Often, both luxury and affordable or public developments have to conform to certain aesthetic standards in order to pass a city’s required design review process before the proposed developments can be approved," Wagner argues.
FULL STORY: Architecture, Aesthetic Moralism, and the Crisis of Urban Housing

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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