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NYC's first zoning code was strongly supported by 5th Avenue retailers who were dismayed that their prestige and exclusivity was being intruded upon by common factory and warehouse workers. That spirit is still very much alive today, unfortunately. an even bigger pity is that very few people see it and understand how it works. Much of the land in Manhattan and Brooklyn that's already been gentrified should be rezoned to allow for much higher residential densities. Increasing the supply of new units to market demand in desirable areas is the only way to stop other areas from obscene rent increases. Instead, we stay quiet and as a result, trust fund babies and folks with higher incomes sprawl deeper into neighboring communities, causing displacement of long-term residents. Community groups from the Bronx, Queens, and what's left of Brooklyn should be demanding rezonings in Manhattan, even Staten Island, to allow for higher densities to meet the needs of the growing population. Otherwise, families are going to be priced out! Instead, we're just blindly trained to view rezonings as bad and we don't care unless it happens within our community.
Just my rant for today. The only area in the metro region is doing it right is Jersey City, and as a result, the affordable areas of town are remaining affordable. Imagine that.
NYC's first zoning code was strongly supported by 5th Avenue retailers who were dismayed that their prestige and exclusivity was being intruded upon by common factory and warehouse workers. That spirit is still very much alive today, unfortunately. an even bigger pity is that very few people see it and understand how it works. Much of the land in Manhattan and Brooklyn that's already been gentrified should be rezoned to allow for much higher residential densities. Increasing the supply of new units to market demand in desirable areas is the only way to stop other areas from obscene rent increases. Instead, we stay quiet and as a result, trust fund babies and folks with higher incomes sprawl deeper into neighboring communities, causing displacement of long-term residents. Community groups from the Bronx, Queens, and what's left of Brooklyn should be demanding rezonings in Manhattan, even Staten Island, to allow for higher densities to meet the needs of the growing population. Otherwise, families are going to be priced out! Instead, we're just blindly trained to view rezonings as bad and we don't care unless it happens within our community.
Just my rant for today. The only area in the metro region is doing it right is Jersey City, and as a result, the affordable areas of town are remaining affordable. Imagine that.
That sounds great. Where's the infrastructure to support all of these higher residential buildings? The city is going crazy rezoning and no one can get around with the endless amount of congestion, subway fiascos and other nonsense. The developers are laughing as they run to the bank. If these developers want to insist on redeveloping and building taller and taller buildings, they should bear the brunt of investing in transportation projects to support this influx of people. The current system simply can't handle it.
^perfect example of the flawed logic. Instead of keeping neighborhoods affordable by increasing supply, the lack of adequate infrastructure (which is really caused by a lack of investment by the government) is seen as a more important consideration than people being pushed out of their homes. The logic of not adding new supply will result in poorer families being displaced in favor of trust fund babies and those with higher incomes who can outbid existing, long-term residents for a finite supply of rentals. All this in order to keep congestion under control. Rather than demanding more housing and better investment from the government, it's the big bad developers fault.
Not adding new housing supply will lead to widespread gentrification and displacement of long-term families. Instead of demanding better investment from the government for infrastructure support, the anti-development logic implies it's better to not build because of the ill-maintained infrastructure investment.
Poor people get the shaft so the rich don't have to worry about congestion.
^perfect example of the flawed logic. Instead of keeping neighborhoods affordable, the governments lack of investment in infrastructure and subways is seen as more important. The logic is that poorer families will be displaced in favor of trust fund babies and those with higher incomes in order to keep congestion under control. Rather than demand better investment from government, it's the big bad developers.
There's nothing flawed about it at all. You want more high rises built, and I'm saying fine. Build the infrastructure to support it then. These developers are doing nothing but building and causing congestion that is out of control and there is no end in sight in terms of how to address this problem.
There's nothing flawed about it at all. You want more high rises built, and I'm saying fine. Build the infrastructure to support it then. These developers are doing nothing but building and causing congestion that is out of control and there is no end in sight in terms of how to address this problem.
The developers are responding to NYC's regressive zoning. Why isn't there a legal mechanism to have developers automatically contribute to infrastructure investment in exchange for higher densities, and more importantly, why does the government get a pass for not adequately funding said investment. There is, in theory, an ad hoc process in place, but it's so unpredictable that it really isn't effective.
Again, poor families and long-term residents are being displaced because congestion concerns trumps a families need for affordable neighborhoods in your eyes.
The developers are responding to NYC's regressive zoning. Why isn't there a legal mechanism to have developers contribute to infrastructure investment in exchange for higher densities, and more importantly, why does the government get a pass for not adequately funding said investment.
Again, poor families and long-term residents are being displaced because congestion concerns trumps a families need for affordable neighborhoods in your eyes.
Why should the government spend spend spend when these developers are getting all sorts of goodies and tax breaks? Good infrastructure benefits developers too. The SAS is a perfect example. Just finished and the developers have been falling over themselves to grab anything and everything in and near the area to develop it so that they can benefit from the infrastructure upgrades, but they don't want to contribute to such improvements. I'm actually sick of it. On top of that there is over development, and that buffoon de Blasio is trying to reshape every neighborhood in the name of "affordable housing". How about we focus on the glut that's currently on the market and make that available to people that need it? We have nothing but luxury buildings going up that no one can afford, so they're sitting there empty, but yet we should build even more?
pierrepont7731 is actually correct. Building higher rises will only congest our subways, water supply, schools, and electrical grids.
The more buildings that are built the more people from other States and countries will move here. And why does everyone have to live here, anyway? Your idea in no way will stop the poorer folks from being priced out.
Why should the government spend spend spend when these developers are getting all sorts of goodies and tax breaks? Good infrastructure benefits developers too. The SAS is a perfect example. Just finished and the developers have been falling over themselves to grab anything and everything in and near the area to develop it so that they can benefit from the infrastructure upgrades, but they don't want to contribute to such improvements. I'm actually sick of it. On top of that there is over development, and that buffoon de Blasio is trying to reshape every neighborhood in the name of "affordable housing". How about we focus on the glut that's currently on the market and make that available to people that need it? We have nothing but luxury buildings going up that no one can afford, so they're sitting there empty, but yet we should build even more?
Of course good infrastructure benefits everyone, including developers. It's also very expensive and naive to think a developer can fund it alone. Infrastructure investment is one of the essential functions of government. There are many positive economic multiples that come with it. The reason why there are so many luxury buildings going up in NYC is because the city's codes have made it virtually impossible to build anything else. It's way too complex and expensive a process that luxury condos are what we typically see built. Make it easier, less expensive to build, and developers will switch their focus from overpriced luxury condos that they are unable to sell to housing people actually want.
Your irrational hate of developers have blinded you too how much government has mismanaged the situation here in NY.
pierrepont7731 is actually correct. Building higher rises will only congest our subways, water supply, schools, and electrical grids.
The more buildings that are built the more people from other States and countries will move here. And why does everyone have to live here, anyway? Your idea in no way will stop the poorer folks from being priced out.
Ahh, the mentally of the retailers on 5th Avenue when zoning was first introduced remains true to this day! You don't have a right to live here poor people. Get out of the way.
Look at any city across the country. The ones that are building new supply are remaining affordable as they grow while the San Francisco's of the world are just displacing everyone out in favor of the newcomers.
Of course good infrastructure benefits everyone, including developers. It's also very expensive and naive to think a developer can fund it alone. Infrastructure investment is one of the essential functions of government. There are many positive economic multiples that come with it. The reason why there are so many luxury buildings going up in NYC is because the city's codes have made it virtually impossible to build anything else. It's way too complex and expensive a process that luxury condos are what we typically see built. Make it easier, less expensive to build, and developers will switch their focus from overpriced luxury condos that they are unable to sell to housing people actually want.
Your irrational hate of developers have blinded you too how much government has mismanaged the situation here in NY.
What a load of crap. While I do agree that the city's codes have made it very difficult to build nothing but luxury, the notion that developers care oh so much about building what people want is a joke. Developers care about one thing and one thing only. What is going to bring them the most profit. Everything is centered around maximizing profit. Developers should be responsible for allocating a portion of monies to infrastructure.
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The city is going crazy rezoning and no one can get around with the endless amount of congestion, subway fiascos and other nonsense. The developers are laughing as they run to the bank. If these developers want to insist on redeveloping and building taller and taller buildings, they should bear the brunt of investing in transportation projects to support this influx of people. The current system simply can't handle it.
These developers are doing nothing but building and causing congestion that is out of control and there is no end in sight in terms of how to address this problem.
