Reply to Arlington Missing Middle Housing Q&A

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Haven’t read all the pages on this, but just scanned a Boston fed report on increased density - even they say increased density makes neighborhoods less valuable/perceived quality declines for homeowners.

https://www.bostonfed.org/news-and-events/news/2022/10/boston-fed-research-relaxing-density-restrictions-best-way-to-increase-multifamily-housing.aspx

“House prices would likely fall with rents if greater housing density is allowed
The authors find that zoning reform that relaxes density restrictions doesn’t just reduce rents. It also causes house prices to fall—including single-family house prices. Their analysis shows that allowing one more housing unit per acre in a Greater Boston neighborhood increases the number of units in that neighborhood by an average of 0.4. This increase results in the neighborhood’s rents dropping more than 5% and house prices falling more than 7% on average (see graphic). [b]House prices drop because the housing supply increases. Or they fall because when a neighborhood becomes denser, its perceived quality declines[/b].“

Obviously, Boston is bigger than Arlington so our supply may not make a difference to prices but the perceived quality sure will decline!

[/quote]

that's great news! that way more people of all backgrounds can afford to live in Arlington. what's the problem with that? 
[/quote]

In theory it sounds good. But I don't think prices will decrease in any meaningful way. Affordable housing in desirable areas doesn't just doesn't seem to pan out.  If you can't afford to live in an area, go live somewhere else. I would love to live in San Diego, but here I am in DC  :roll: [/quote]

+1 to this. 
Developers say this will bring affordable housing to make it more palatable, and the BOS will probably fall for it but there's no way the housing created from this will be affordable. [/quote]

I don't know which developers are saying this, but the builders I work with think MMH will help them in several ways.  First, they can build multiple units on one lot and the combined price of the units will be higher than the price of one house, even given the higher construction costs.    Second, ArlCo will have to relax standards on set backs, lot coverage, and storm water management to get developers to build MMH.  Builders  can then argue that ArlCo has to do the same for single houses.  [/quote]

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