General Discussion

JHB

(37,149 posts)

7. Zoning needs to be changed to allow for more "in between" development.

Sun Sep 25, 2022, 04:59 PM

Sep 2022

In many US and Canadian cities you really only have two choices for living: an apartment/condo, or a single family home. The housing options in-between these two extremes - called "Missing Middle Housing" - has been legislated almost out of existence in the US and Canada.

Now many cities are starting to doubt these regulations and are (slowly) undoing the car-centric mistakes of the past. This video explores the missing middle, what it was, what it still is in Europe, and what it could be in the future in North America.

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A solution to affordable housing... that Americans just don't seem to like. [View all] WarGamer Sep 2022 OP

There has to be upkeep too Bettie Sep 2022 #1

great points. WarGamer Sep 2022 #3

In addition... WarGamer Sep 2022 #2

I just don't see people wanting to live in those. jimfields33 Sep 2022 #4

Young people. WarGamer Sep 2022 #5

You just described a high end condo DetroitLegalBeagle Sep 2022 #11

Then it's greed. WarGamer Sep 2022 #13

Don't forget land costs which can be high, but various building permit and other requirements karynnj Sep 2022 #64

That's just ridiculous. See my post #15. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #18

If they're close to or in a city, lots of people would like them, Sky Jewels Sep 2022 #9

Because they don't have the financial option... ret5hd Sep 2022 #19

People always say they want yards, but never use them NickB79 Sep 2022 #44

No thanks Zeitghost Sep 2022 #6

That's not going to be sustainable in the near future. WarGamer Sep 2022 #8

If many would love it Zeitghost Sep 2022 #12

most municipalities don't allow them... the whole NIMBY thing. WarGamer Sep 2022 #14

+1 chowder66 Sep 2022 #47

Apartments are not necessarily "cramped, crowded spaces with no outdoor space." Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #25

love that part about community gardening!! WarGamer Sep 2022 #26

Me too! I had just started thinking, "The only thing Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #28

That sounds nice Zeitghost Sep 2022 #49

It's call a HOA inthewind21 Sep 2022 #79

Agreed Zeitghost Sep 2022 #80

I'm sorry but none of this is true. For 50 years, my building has had a board that is elected by the Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #84

Is that how you live? LisaM Sep 2022 #50

There is no one-size fits all. Your dream should not exclude others. Hermit-The-Prog Sep 2022 #10

Zoning needs to be changed to allow for more "in between" development. JHB Sep 2022 #7

In Sweden, I stayed in Kungsholmen. It was all apartments near a Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #15

+1000, great points WarGamer Sep 2022 #16

Rinkeby, Tensta, Fittja, Hallunda, Norsborg, Husby, Alby, etc are all dodgy parts of the Celerity Sep 2022 #57

I see what you are saying. (Your neighborhood is beautiful Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #58

Oh, of course we have nothing like the worst parts of the US (I lived in LA whilst Celerity Sep 2022 #72

I've lived in the projects... nightthinker Sep 2022 #17

Does this happen in NYC co-ops? Why not? WarGamer Sep 2022 #20

Residents in NY co-ops are owners. The value affects the value of their Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #22

exactly... WarGamer Sep 2022 #23

NYC Mz Pip Sep 2022 #67

Affordable apartments and projects are two very different things. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #21

Personally, I would rather live out of a shopping cart than in a large condo. Chainfire Sep 2022 #24

I live in a co-op. I never hear my neighbors unless I visit them. Our board Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #30

My neighbors walk around on four legs, and we get along swimmingly. Chainfire Sep 2022 #31

And I'm glad you found yours! Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #34

Well, "choice" if you got the cash. ret5hd Sep 2022 #32

It was a metaphor. Chainfire Sep 2022 #35

I understand that...I was just... ret5hd Sep 2022 #39

I get what you are saying and I address it in a post I was typing while you were posting. Chainfire Sep 2022 #42

I made choices when I was young that allowed me to choose how I live out my final years. Chainfire Sep 2022 #41

In Europe, they also have parks and transit and local stores. LisaM Sep 2022 #27

With all the zoning rules about apartment developments, Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #29

Not just walkable distance - there need to be sidewalks. LisaM Sep 2022 #36

Yikes. That is rough. And that walkability score is outrageous. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #38

Whittier, Alaska... mostly one building keithbvadu2 Sep 2022 #33

Love how you want to force everyone to live alphafemale Sep 2022 #37

You're feeling forced? OK. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #40

You would force it if you could. alphafemale Sep 2022 #43

Have a lovely and cheerful evening. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #45

thank dog this wasn't about... ret5hd Sep 2022 #53

But I WILL fight you about the corn flakes! Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #59

You asked for it: Carlitos Brigante Sep 2022 #74

not seeing that treestar Sep 2022 #56

Come live in my gray block towers alphafemale Sep 2022 #66

:) Right, "utopia." Russia, China Nazi Germany, socialist and RW authoritarian Hortensis Sep 2022 #65

Not near me! Buckeye_Democrat Sep 2022 #46

The solution is public housing but pepper-potted in stable communities meadowlander Sep 2022 #48

I'm not talking about public housing. WarGamer Sep 2022 #52

I grew up in the projects NQAS Sep 2022 #51

No patios or outdoor space? Texasgal Sep 2022 #54

Lived in multi story buildings with patio/balconies..zero privacy..someone always looking down at yo Demovictory9 Sep 2022 #95

I have been in these types in Poland and they aren't that bad. JanMichael Sep 2022 #55

People really have some nutty ideas about apartment living! Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #60

The design of the buildings will have to improve dclarston13 Sep 2022 #61

As I have said frequently in this thread, I live in an apartment. It is one of 15 Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #69

what are you talking about? what apartment ventilation systems "spread viruses like wildfire"? maxsolomon Sep 2022 #82

There are a lot of bat-shit crazy assertions about apartment living in this thread. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #83

Follow the links dclarston13 Sep 2022 #86

Well, aren't you special GP6971 Sep 2022 #87

Well! Bully for you! I am sure you are so passionate about Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #88

France has housing like this outside of Paris...they have become ghettos. I am not in favor of this Demsrule86 Sep 2022 #62

Projects and owner-occupied housing are very different things. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #68

It would end up being a project...look at Jared's properties. Demsrule86 Sep 2022 #70

Jared's tenants are not owners. Jared is the owner. The tenants are tenants. In contrast, Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #71

What you are describing is a coop and what about maintenance? Who will pay for it? Demsrule86 Sep 2022 #77

You could never have huge places and make it work...but you could build co-ops Demsrule86 Sep 2022 #78

LOL! You don't get it. There isn't a question about whether this "will work." Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #81

Have you seen what "affordable housing" rents for these days? dembotoz Sep 2022 #63

Agreed. WarGamer Sep 2022 #76

How would you keep the individual apartments Bettie Sep 2022 #73

The owners set the by-laws. And the residents are the owners. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #75

Wow, WarGamer! Who would have thought that DUers would have such Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #85

yeah pretty surprising... WarGamer Sep 2022 #89

One more thing.... WarGamer Sep 2022 #93

Carbon footprint is one of the reasons I do it. Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #96

You gotta like that they don't include porches or covered parking. tenderfoot Sep 2022 #90

Millions of people live like this worldwide... tens of millions, maybe 100's?? WarGamer Sep 2022 #91

Well, now you know why some do hate it. tenderfoot Sep 2022 #92

for sure... fortunately no one would be forced to buy them. WarGamer Sep 2022 #94

From what I've seen in this thread, the ones who "hate" it are the ones Scrivener7 Sep 2022 #97