Market Urbanism MUsings June 17, 2016

1. This week at Market Urbanism

Matt Robare summarizes Massachusetts‘ zoning reform: Massachusetts Senate Passes Zoning Reform

the bill directs municipalities to allow accessory dwelling units as-of-right in single-family residential districts; permits more as-of-right multifamily housing; reduces the number of votes needed to change zoning from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority; allows development impact fees; eliminates the need for special permits for some types of zoning; provides standards for granting zoning variances; establishes a training program for zoning board members; and lastly, modifies the process of creating a subdivision.

Dan Keshet Three Lessons Public Transit Can Learn From Uber

When you get in an Uber, you don’t pay fare like you do on a bus. You just start moving. When you reach your destination, you don’t fumble for cash and wait for change like you do in a taxi. You just get out. This may seem like a small detail, but Uber riders frequently cite this convenience as giving the service a magical feeling.

Michael Lewyn Are High-Rises More Expensive?

But in fact, fairly tall buildings can be pretty cheap where demand is low and/or housing supply is high. For example, in East Cleveland, a low-income suburb of Cleveland, one 24-story building rents one bedroom apartments for as little as $552 per month, despite the fact that the building contains extras such as a pool and a fitness center.

2. Where’s Scott?

Scott Beyer is about to join Friday happy hour at the YIMBY Conference in Boulder, CO. His Forbes article this week was about how ‘Mexican Nationals’ Are Transforming San Antonio

It isn’t hard to see how the invasion of 100,000 people like Paredes would benefit San Antonio. Foreign conflicts throughout South America have bolstered the real estate market and city coffers in Miami. Conflicts throughout Asia have done the same in North American cities like San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver. The Mexican National exodus is producing similar visible effects here.

3. At the Market Urbanism Facebook Group:

Dan Bartolet wrote: Why Quashing Short-Term Rentals is a Zero-Sum Game for Housing Affordability

Sandy Ikeda‘s latest at FEE: China’s “Planned Capitalism” Kills Wealth

Matt Robare criticized the Boston Globe’s “yapid piece on housing”

Roger Valdez:  [Seattle] Short-term Rental Gambit Redistributes Scarcity

Roger Valdez shared his latest, saying “Why is housing in Seattle expensive? Let me count…”

Marcos Paulo Schlickmann stumbled on a paper which found that most transit systems reduce welfare

Shanu Athiparambath‘s latest: Cities Emulate the Internet

Dean Gunderson is looking for thoughts on pitfalls for cities that don’t charge property tax

Krishan Madan wants to discuss ideas for regenerating manufacturing in cities

via Kevin Watts: The Overinflated Fear of Being Priced Out of Housing by Robert Schiller

via Anthony Ling: Here’s why Chicago’s Chinatown is booming, even as others across the U.S. fade

via Nolan Gray: a video of Sandy Ikeda‘s lecture on Jane Jacobs view of Poverty and Progress (Henry George)

via Adam Lang: Five Years and $500 Million Later, USDA Admits That ‘Food Deserts’ Don’t Matter

via Logan Mohtashami: West Texas Town Finds ‘Tiny House’ Crowd a Bit Too Earthy

via Krishan Madan: Neighborhood Council Freaked Out About Extra Poop that Comes with Density

via Nolan Gray: “in Somerville, Massachusetts (pop. 79k), only 21 houses conform to current zoning/land-use regs“

via Krishan Madan: Mayor suggests privatizing culs-de-sac to emphasize need for road funding [Madison, WI]

via Bruno Mynthi Showers, “Surprisingly market-oriented insights”: No Skin in the Game

4. Elsewhere:

Michael Lewyn wrote about his experiences in Detroit for CNU

NYC grocer tries to sue away competition

China has a mass demolition plan for a Tibetan city

5. Stephen Smith‘s tweet of the week:

Most of the net worth of Mountain View’s residents probably comes from putting real estate profits over people…

— Market Urbanism (@MarketUrbanism) June 16, 2016