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writethefuture3 OP t1_ixitlvk wrote

Should remove all height limits, lot setbacks, and "historic" designations. Let land owners build what they want.

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SteamingHotChocolate t1_ixiz4oo wrote

>Let land owners build what they want.

This will not work out the way you think it will

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itsonlyastrongbuzz t1_ixixiip wrote

The solution to one extreme is seldom the other extreme, it’s moderation.

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charons-voyage t1_ixj02zm wrote

This is Reddit, if you aren’t proposing to eat the rich and build a bike lane out of their remains then it’s gonna get downvoted.

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3720-To-One t1_ixjeslh wrote

Right, and part of that moderation is making zoning far more loose and less restrictive within residential zones.

Give developers far more freedom to meet the soaring demand.

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itsonlyastrongbuzz t1_ixjkczo wrote

Less restrictive, absolutely!

Not total abolishment; some libertarian pipe dream of “build anything you want anywhere and it’ll just sort itself out.”

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partyorca t1_ixjxvby wrote

Having been to Houston recently, holy shit the laissez-faire approach to building just whatever wherever does not end well. Gross place.

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IC_Design t1_ixj4wsq wrote

You sound like a NIMBY

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SergeantThunderCock t1_ixjbtlm wrote

Moderation was defined in the Republic as the act of balancing between competing needs. Right now, the need for cheaper housing is overwhelming. Thoughtful moderates are not supporting NIMBY policies.

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IC_Design t1_ixjgcqp wrote

NIMBYs disguise under the name of moderacy to prevent anything from getting built

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Efficient-Future786 t1_ixjj4hi wrote

That ain't it, if anything we should be enforcing those rules more than we currently do. We absolutely have enough land to fix the housing crisis with just mid-density buildings and the premium for a more livable city is worth it. Boston should look to Paris for inspiration, not New York City.

The real answer is to upzone large swaths of land near public transit to allow for 5-6 story housing with first floor retail, aka what literally everyone wants. Try walking along Beacon Street from the public garden to Coolidge Corner for example, it's one of the densest housing corridors in the state but it feels extremely livable, on account of setbacks, rules for architectural styles, and limits to around 6 stories. Upzoning neighborhoods like Mission Hill, Allston, Cambridgeport, Central Square, and Kendall Square to this style would put a massive dent into housing demand and create ideal urban life.

Sure, build a few high rises in central districts, but too many of those just aren't desirable. Downtown Boston is about to renovate a bunch of former office towers to housing anyways and that should fill most of the demand for that particular kind of housing.

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