A hopeful developer shares his vision for affordable and energy-efficient apartments in Minneapolis. As he navigates the housing shortage, he encounters community opposition and red tape. The clash between NIMBYism and YIMBYism reflects the deep-rooted challenges facing urban development. Amid reform initiatives, construction halts unexpectedly, revealing a struggle to balance community needs and the urgency of increasing housing supply. Through humorous anecdotes, listeners gain insight into the complexities of sustainable housing amidst socio-economic dilemmas.
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Missing Middle Housing
Cody Fisher, a developer, wants to build a 32-unit apartment building in Minneapolis.
This "missing middle" housing is meant to address the city's housing shortage.
insights INSIGHT
Eliminating Single-Family Zoning
Minneapolis's 2040 plan eliminated single-family zoning, a first for major US cities.
This encourages denser housing like duplexes, triplexes, and apartments.
question_answer ANECDOTE
New Building, Neighborhood Opposition
A new four-story, 23-unit apartment building was built on a single-family home lot.
It showcased sustainable features, but faced neighborhood opposition.
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Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys. The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis. It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth. The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements[3][4][5].
Les misérables
Victor Hugo
Les Misérables is a profound novel that delves into the lives of several characters, particularly Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who seeks redemption after being treated with kindness by a bishop. The novel critiques the social injustices of 19th-century France, including poverty, extreme social inequality, and a harsh prison system. It weaves historical events, such as the June Rebellion of 1832, into the narrative and emphasizes the importance of love, compassion, and the inherent dignity of all people.
When Cody Fischer decided to get into real estate development, he had a vision. He wanted to build affordable, energy efficient apartments in Minneapolis, not far from where he grew up.
His vision was well-timed because, in 2019, Minneapolis's city council passed one of the most ambitious housing plans in the nation. One aim of that plan was to alleviate the city's housing shortage by encouraging developers like Cody to build, build, build.
But when Cody tried to build, he ran into problems. The kinds of problems that arise all over the country when cities confront a short supply of housing, and try to build their way out.
Today on the show, NIMBYism, YIMBYism and why it's so hard to fix the housing shortage. Told through the story of two apartment buildings in Minneapolis.
This episode was hosted by Amanda Aronczyk and Kenny Malone. It was produced by Emma Peaslee and Sofia Shchukina, and edited by Molly Messick. It was engineered by James Willets and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.
Planet Money 
