NIMBY

NIMBY Toilet Sign

The Theory of NIMBYism, Part 2

Homeowners' desire for more expensive land does not justify the "NIMBY veto" over new development.

May 5, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

Houston High Rise Ruling a Win-Lose

A judge's ruling provides a way forward for the proposed Ashby high rise development in Houston—a 21-story residential building that provoked a lawsuit by neighbors who have little recourse to protest developments in their city.

May 2, 2014 - Houston Chronicle

Questioning the 'Wisdom of Crowds' in Minneapolis

In a familiar refrain for anyone who's lamented the veto power of NIMBYs or the added cost of citizen engagement events, one writer expresses concerned about a recent succession of developments shot down by community groups in the Twin Cities.

April 28, 2014 - Minneapolis Post

How (and Where) NIMBY Zoning Regulations Stagnate the National Economy

Household formations and the tight mortgage market are one thing, but a recent article on Vox examines the role of zoning—and the NIMBYs that control it—in the housing market's stagnating influence on the national economy.

April 26, 2014 - Vox

Happy Ending for Controversial Development Proposal in Philadelphia

Once a developer provokes the ire of the community surrounding a proposed development and the word NIMBY gets bandied about, chances for a mutually beneficial solution are slim to none. Not so with the One Riverside project in Philadelphia.

April 24, 2014 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Development Fails the Public Opinion Polls

A recent article for PlannersWeb called “10 Things You Should Know About How the Public Feels About Development” provides helpful data and insight into the type of opposition encountered whenever new development projects face public scrutiny.

April 9, 2014 - PlannersWeb

Toronto from my room

Website Says 'Yes In My Back Yard'

A website called New York YIMBY is run by a 23-year-old New Yorker named Nikolai Fedak. The site, and Fedak’s pro-development ethos, was recently detailed in the New York Times.

April 8, 2014 - New York Times

Not in my back yard

NIMBY Added to the Oxford English Dictionary

The definitive dictionary of the English language, the Oxford English Dictionary, will add the term NIMBY to its latest edition, citing the widespread use and worldwide political relevance of the term as reasons for its inclusion.

April 1, 2014 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Tappan Zee Bridge Bike and Pedestrian Path Sparks Controversy

A recent article calls it likes it sees it: most would consider a three-mile bike and pedestrian path over the Hudson River a gift. Not so in South Nyack, at the western end of a new Tappan Zee Bridge, where such a plan sparked vehement opposition.

March 26, 2014 - New York Times

Ritzy Neighborhoods Struggling Against Infill

The market forces that push developers and landowners to build “more” and “bigger” have cropped up in some of the swankiest neighborhoods in Portland. So far, neighbors who oppose the projects are finding scant legal recourse to prevent the changes.

March 13, 2014 - The Oregonian

Idiot brigade

The Theory Behind NIMBYism

Why should people have veto power over anything built in their neighborhood?

March 12, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

How States Can Combat Affordable Housing NIMBYs

The U.S. is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. But as the landmark Mount Laurel saga illustrates, many communities object to developing such housing. Corianne Payton Scally argues that states should work harder to promote such projects.

October 23, 2013 - Rooflines

10 Principles for Smart Growth in Existing Communities

Frustrated by what's passing as "smart growth" and "transit oriented development," Bill Adams postulates ten refinements (or less subtly stated clarifications) of the principles of smart growth and new urbanism.

April 21, 2013 - UrbDeZine.com

Idiot brigade

Leaked Settlement Shows the Dirty Underbelly of NIMBYism

In case anyone thought that developers were the only bad actors seeking to profit off of contentious projects, confidential settlement terms leaked to Curbed show how local groups abuse the California Environmental Quality Act for dubious gains.

January 5, 2013 - Curbed LA

The Steps to Creating a Meaningful Vision

In the three steps of placemaking, crafting a meaningful vision is the first and most straightforward, yet it's the most under-leveraged. Continuing his series on "Municipal Placemaking Mistakes," Nathan Norris describes how to get it right.

November 23, 2012 - PlaceShakers

NIMBY Zoning And the Tragedy Of The Commons

Decades ago, ecologist Garrett Hardin wrote about the "tragedy of the commons"- when an action that is rational for one person becomes irrational when widely practiced.  For example, suppose that there are a few dozen cattle ranchers near a pasture open to all.  It makes sense for each rancher to let as many cattle graze as possible on the pasture, so that the ranchers can feed their cattle without buying additional land.  But if every rancher lets as many cattle as possible graze, sooner or later the land will be overgrazed and the cattle may starve.

August 27, 2012 - Michael Lewyn

Home Bible Study + Zoning Codes = Prison

A Phoenix man serves time for holding prayer gatherings in his home, part of what attorney and author John W. Whitehead sees as a larger trend toward zoning out home services.

August 7, 2012 - The Huffington Post

Bringing Crowdfunding to Our Backyards

Michael J. Coren shines a light on an innovative crowdfunding site targeting neighborhood improvements.

February 28, 2012 - Fast Co.Exisit

NIMBYs, For Better or Worse

NIMBYism served a purpose once, says Scott Doyon, preventing all sorts of heinous projects from being built. But eventually, it became about stopping ALL change. Doyon has some recommendations for changing course.

July 30, 2011 - PlaceShakers

The Problems of the Public Process

NIMBYism is obstructing the urban planning process, according to architect and New Urbanist Andres Duany. He suggests changing the public participation process to unclog the system.

January 11, 2011 - Architect

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