NIMBYism

Construction

California's New 'By-Right' Housing Law: Will it Make a Difference?

A new law could enable affordable housing projects, if they meet the specified criteria, to bypass the public process that so often blocks their approval.

October 5, 2017 - Los Angeles Daily News

Highway Living

How Overly Restrictive Land Use Regulations Hurt the Nation's Economy

Two economics professors from the University of Chicago and the University of California, Berkeley argue that the housing crisis doesn't just affect booming coastal cities. It's a national problem.

September 15, 2017 - The New York Times - Opinion

San Francisco

Houston and San Francisco: Urban Development Patterns Gone Awry

With the media rightfully pointing to Houston's sprawling urban development patterns that exacerbated the epic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, Paul Krugman also finds fault with cities where urban development is too tightly regulated.

September 5, 2017 - The New York Times - Opinion

New York, New York

The Scourge of Setbacks

Accepted by planners as a way to make buildings feel less 'crowded' and baked into many zoning codes, setbacks achieve no benefit other than giving opponents of development a bargaining chip.

May 19, 2017 - California Planning & Development Report

Skyscraper at 1 Madison Park, Manhattan

'Greedy Developer' Trope: Tired and Counterproductive

Opponents of development often cast themselves as opponents of developers, whom they see as greedy and exploitative. But demonization does no good when developers—profit and all—are a crucial part of city-building.

April 19, 2017 - California Planning & Development Report

Lawn Sign Liberalism

Seeing "No Matter Where You're From" signs in liberal-leaning towns makes me both smile and cringe. Why? Because I know the tolerant message belies the real feelings many have towards neighbors, not from other countries, but "other" neighborhoods.

April 13, 2017 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Indiana City Votes to Restrict Drug Treatment Centers

The city of New Albany approved a plan to keep where opioid abuse clinics can locate.

March 28, 2017 - News and Tribune

Old houses with large porch and colorful siding

Why Aren't We Building Middle Income Housing?

For low-income residents in high-cost areas, there's no substitute for the public sector to provide below-market rate housing. But for middle-income households, the market should be able to produce housing without subsidy. So why doesn't this happen?

February 28, 2017 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Not in my back yard

Unveiling Renters' Hidden NIMBYism

This research shows that renters in high-cost cities can be just as prone to NIMBYism as homeowners, even as they theoretically support more housing. This is housing supply's collective action problem.

February 13, 2017 - Joint Center for Housing Studies

Library

Professor: Good Planning Starts with Good Judgment

A Calgary researcher pushes for outcome-oriented planning.

October 31, 2016 - Calgary Herald

In 2016, Legal Battle Lines Are Drawn in the Back Yard

The legal, and social, challenges to building more second units in Los Angeles.

August 14, 2016 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

New York Housing

A Utopian Solution to NIMBYism and High Housing Costs

The housing shortages caused by restrictive zoning are easy to solve in principle—even if the solutions are politically impossible.

April 4, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

Tenderloin District

Op-Ed: Overcoming a New NIMBYism

Rick Jacobus argues that those who block new development on social justice grounds aren't fighting to win long-term. Building is necessary, but with it should come robust affordable housing mandates.

March 17, 2016 - Shelterforce

Another California Columnist Rails Against CEQA Abuse by NIMBYs

With the help of housing experts, San Francisco Chronicle columnist Chip Johnson points to abuse of the California Environmental Quality Act by NIMBYs as one of the main reasons for the Bay Area's housing crisis. Ethan Elkind offers an opposing view.

March 14, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

facades of victorian style residences in San Francisco

NIMBYs at Center of California's Housing Shortage

Sacramento Bee's political columnist, Dan Walters, writes that NIMBYs are among the main reasons for the state's chronic housing crisis, and one of their main tools is the California Environmental Quality Act, which must be reformed by politicians.

January 20, 2016 - The Sacramento Bee

Street Musician

Street Performers: Nuisance or Necessity?

With its eclectic music scene, Asheville, North Carolina is a popular spot for street musicians. They can bring a vibrancy the town might suffer without. But some residents fear a rise in panhandling and homelessness.

May 31, 2015 - The New York Times

Pedestrian Overpass

Walkability 'Growing Pains' in Los Angeles

By many estimates, a city known for its pedestrian unfriendliness is developing pockets of local walkability. Minor disputes over pedestrian rights may add up to something bigger.

May 15, 2015 - CityLab

McMansion Construction

Los Angeles (Temporarily) Bans New McMansions

Concerns about out-of-character construction, much of it oversized, has led the Los Angeles City Council to prohibit construction of additional 'McMansions.' In some areas, all new development will be held up for two years.

April 23, 2015 - Los Angeles Daily News

Idiot brigade

More on the Cost of Anti-Growth Policies

As urban centers start making better sense for a digital economy, NIMBY policies might be worth re-examining. In addition to driving up the cost of housing, they may compound inefficiencies and slow down the economy.

April 12, 2015 - The Economist

Santa Monica

Report: Coastal Los Angeles Will Likely Remain Unaffordable

Los Angeles home prices have long since skyrocketed above median income. A report by the Legislative Analyst's Office shows how difficult it would be to build L.A. out of its predicament.

March 29, 2015 - Curbed LA

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