undefined | Better HN

0 pointsfoobar19626y ago0 comments

> The real solution to a housing problem is to incentivize and facilitate the building of more housing.

This argument comes up here in Australia with regards to Sydney and Melbourne in particular -- the two largest cities.

Building more houses only makes more sprawl. Increasing density causes problems for current residents and puts enormous strain on existing infrastructure[1].

The only real solution is to get people to live in other places that have more and cheaper housing.

[1] Not just utility infrastructure like water, sewer, power, gas, (roads, sanitation, what the Romans did for us etc) but natural environment and leisure like sport and recreation areas, parks and bush land, and (particularly in Sydney) beaches. It's really hard making new beaches for the increased population.

0 comments

cycrutchfield6y ago

That’s not a real solution, that’s just wishing the problem would go away on its own. What you are advocating for here is that prices should be more expensive due to limited supply, so that people are forced away due to inability to afford living there.

foobar1962OP6y ago

It's not wishing anything. People ARE ALREADY struggling to afford rent in Sydney and other large cities. They have been getting bigger and bigger in the past decade yet the problem only gets worse (like building highways to solve traffic congestion).

The solution is to make other places attractive for living and have hood opportunities for employment.

Look at it this way: your house or apartment or whatever can probably fit double the people in it. They might be on the floor or on the sofa or whatever, we can double the density. The quality of life will be decreased for everybody.

At what point do we say "It's full, go somewhere else."

cycrutchfield6y ago

In a country with freedom of movement? Never. Your wishful thinking won’t change that. But by all means go ahead advocating to build housing where nobody wants to live, and continue your NIMBY policies to price people out of desirable locations.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsfoobar19626y ago0 comments

> The real solution to a housing problem is to incentivize and facilitate the building of more housing.

This argument comes up here in Australia with regards to Sydney and Melbourne in particular -- the two largest cities.

Building more houses only makes more sprawl. Increasing density causes problems for current residents and puts enormous strain on existing infrastructure[1].

The only real solution is to get people to live in other places that have more and cheaper housing.

0 comments

cycrutchfield6y ago

foobar1962OP6y ago

The solution is to make other places attractive for living and have hood opportunities for employment.

At what point do we say "It's full, go somewhere else."

cycrutchfield6y ago

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse