Atlanta’s housing crisis: stop making it worse with bad arguments against growth (Decatur: transfer, property taxes)

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

Just for full disclosure, I had you mixed up with another heavy urbanist on the forum. My apologies.

No problem. I've made similar mistakes and I'll likely make similar ones in the future.

Outside of that, I got nothing else to say except that I don't like your ideas, and you don't like mine. I'm getting a strong sense that you may be libertarian, which would explain a lot.

Not at all, really. I get the feeling any libertarian would reject me 5 minutes into my thoughts on tax reform and government's roll on, well, a lot of things in this country. I just like to follow the data. Libertarian policies don't really work in aggregate, but parts can. Just like parts of liberal, neoliberal, and conservative ideologies.

I try and look at what works and what doesn't. Overly restrictive zoning laws are a known limiter to bringing housing into affordable ranges. I can respect that we disagree, though.

[jsvh]

Atlanta housing: What listings? Market out of whack, prices rising

New construction is up, but not enough to satisfy all potential buyers.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Atlanta housing: What listings? Market out of whack, prices rising

The average time on the market is 40-something days?? think houses in my neighborhood go in less than a week!

[jsvh]

[k374]

it's ridiculous how expensive ATL has become... when I visited in early 2015 houses in Sandy Springs were just high 200s or so, now when I am looking they are all mid 400s... I just couldn't believe it. Definitely not a reasonable cost of living place anymore.

[arjay57]

Here's one step the city has taken toward increasing density in single family neiegbhorhoods. Individual homeowners will no longer be allowed to go wild and build gigantic mansions on their lots.

The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously on June 5 to impose new controls on demolition and construction of single-family homes in the neighborhood. The new rules require any planned house to be smaller than the largest existing house on the block.

More....Buckhead’s Tuxedo Park supports new construction controls

[Stormhammer]

Originally Posted by k374

it's ridiculous how expensive ATL has become... when I visited in early 2015 houses in Sandy Springs were just high 200s or so, now when I am looking they are all mid 400s... I just couldn't believe it. Definitely not a reasonable cost of living place anymore.

I've been between Buford and Alpharetta since 2010. I know what you mean. I'm seeing townhomes going for $700s.

I suppose that's just how it goes though.

[k374]

Originally Posted by Stormhammer

I've been between Buford and Alpharetta since 2010. I know what you mean. I'm seeing townhomes going for $700s.

I suppose that's just how it goes though.

That's a joke... you can buy a townhouse in Southern California for that, much better economy, much better weather, much better everything... why would anyone pay that kind of money to live in Atlanta?

[bu2]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Here's one step the city has taken toward increasing density in single family neiegbhorhoods. Individual homeowners will no longer be allowed to go wild and build gigantic mansions on their lots.

This doesn't increase density. It just drives buyers elsewhere. And perhaps drives families elsewhere.

I find it offensive that the city is trying to limit what people can build without any basis. Its one thing to have coverage ratios to deal with runoff. But if somebody wants to build a mansion on a huge lot, why should government object? Whose business is it?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by bu2

This doesn't increase density. It just drives buyers elsewhere. And perhaps drives families elsewhere.

I find it offensive that the city is trying to limit what people can build without any basis. Its one thing to have coverage ratios to deal with runoff. But if somebody wants to build a mansion on a huge lot, why should government object? Whose business is it?

Say you've got 12,000 sf house. A man comes along and builds a 50,000 sf house next door.

How is that going to make you feel? It's totally out of character with the neighborhood and could easily cast shadows on your property.