NIMBYism is the biggest obstacle to the evolution of vibrant urban communities, but the incentives for some to use public forums to impose restrictions on neighboring properties are great. Local politicians often bow to the most vocal residents, often with minority opinions, to avoid making waves, but their impositions are at the expense of [...]
This post is part of an ongoing series featured on Market Urbanism called Urbanism Legends. The Urbanism Legends series is intended to expose many of the myths about development and Urban Economics. (it’s a play on the term: “Urban Legends” in case you didn’t catch that)
We’ve all heard it said by some NIMBY [...]
NY Times - Carroll Gardens: The Big Front Yards That Rob the Streets
Although the yards serve as leafy margins to the streets, creating ample open space between the rows of brownstones arrayed on either side, they also put those streets into the “wide” category for zoning purposes. This means developers can build structures on those [...]
NBC5 has an update listing the people involved and video here: New Corruption Charges Hit Building, Zoning Departments
Chicago Tribune: U.S. to announce charges against 15 in city bribe-taking probe
(thanks to Dan M. for the tip)
Federal authorities are set to announce charges Thursday against 15 people, including seven City of Chicago employees, after an investigation into [...]
Austin Contrarian discusses an article that describes how Seattle has become less affordable in recent years. He prescribes a recipe for Austin to become what he calls a “Superstar City” such as New York, Boston, San Francisco, or Seattle. By “Superstar City”, I assume he means an ultra-hip place where housing prices rise rapidly, NIMBY [...]
Limousine Liberals aren’t the only ones who oppose change. In Harlem, neighbors fought to keep new people out of their neighborhood, and want to force gentrification upon other neighborhoods. In the process they created such a stir at Wednesday’s Council session, they had to be cleared out.
It’s such a strange phenomenon: progressives who act conservative; [...]
Tyler Cowen of Marginal Revolution asks a great question: How good would the abolition of zoning in New York City be? He argues that zoning restrictions prevent Manhattan from being a “forest of skyscrapers” such as Sao Paulo.
Many of Manhattan’s skyscrapers are much taller than typical Sao Paulo skyscrapers. This is mostly [...]
Out of Control blog: Terms of Potential PA Turnpike Lease Announced
Curbed NYC 4/22/08: Developer-Driven Rezoning Prepares to Enter Ring
AMNY 4/24/08: Residents fight Tudor City development
Curbed NYC 4/24/08: Neighborhood Love: Tudor City Residents Suing to Block Solow
Houston Strategies 4/24/08: The renewed zoning debate
Check these out:
