Reply to We need to build more: gentrification caused by blocking housing construction (not the opposite!)

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[quote=Anonymous]Previous post is a non-DC person, obviously.  It’s ok, you can stay in your red area.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Rather - it's already unaffordable except for the very rich.  To fix that, we need to make it easier for mid-level developers to build.  Because in the current environment where housing is so scarce, only luxury developers can make the effort to get through zoning hurdles to build.[/quote]

We are involved with several developments in DC. The amount bureaucratic cost and time needed to proceed on a project makes it cost effective only if the resulting units are sold/rented at ”luxury" level prices. I don't pretend to know what he right balance, is but if DC or any other city wants lower cost housing units, they have the lower the barrier to entry for developers. Competition = lower prices. As is, our projects are run by a large team of experienced managers and contractors. This team is very expensive to hire and retain. Their purpose is not to build a good quality structure - we build similar quality buildings elsewhere without needing this much administrative fire power. This situation benefits no one. Even the DC employees themselves don't enjoy the roadblocks they are required to erect. [/quote]

This is totally the problem.  Zoning laws are so restrictive that they basicallly make it illegal to build new housing unless you have a LOT of money to spend on getting past zoning hurdles.

The whole YIMBY movement is trying to fix zoning law to allow building more housing.[/quote]

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