Why NIMBYs Oppose Housing (with Chris Elmendorf)

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Jan 19, 2026

In this engaging discussion, Chris Elmendorf, a law professor at UC Davis and an expert on housing politics, delves into the surprising reasons behind NIMBYism. He reveals that aesthetics and design play crucial roles in public opposition to housing developments. Notably, he shares insights from experiments showing that the reputation of architects and the appearance of buildings can significantly sway public opinion. Elmendorf also discusses effective strategies for YIMBY advocates, including pre-approved designs and thoughtful urban planning to mitigate aesthetic concerns.

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INSIGHT

Aesthetics Drive Much Housing Opposition

Aesthetic and symbolic cues strongly shape opposition to new housing beyond pure pocketbook or proximity concerns.
'Fit' and design can legitimize many underlying anxieties and resist technocratic policy fixes.

INSIGHT

Voters Use Heuristics, Not Deep Policy Analysis

Voters use heuristics and symbolic cues because they can't be experts on every policy.
Distrust of developers and class resentments act as simple shortcuts shaping housing attitudes.

ANECDOTE

Developers Bargain Informally With Locals

Developers often do behind-the-scenes bargaining with local stakeholders to secure approvals.
That process fuels perceptions of shadiness and strengthens anti-developer sentiment.

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NIMBYism is usually explained as selfishness: homeowners protecting property values, or neighbors who just hate change. But a growing body of research suggests something simpler and harder to argue with: aesthetics.

What if people oppose new housing not only because of who might move in or what it might do to traffic, but because the building just looks “wrong”?

In this episode, Jerusalem Demsas talks with UC Davis law professor Chris Elmendorf about new experiments that test what actually moves support for apartment buildings—design, context, symbolic cues like “luxury,” and even whether an architect is described as award-winning. They also get into what this means for YIMBY strategy and why some popular fixes don’t buy as much support as you’d think.

The Argument is a podcast dedicated to honest, unflinching debate about the biggest questions facing democracy, culture, and our future. As the host, Editor-in-Chief Jerusalem Demsas brings together voices across the political spectrum to argue, challenge, and persuade. Each episode is a space where disagreements are confronted directly, with clarity and conviction, rather than hidden or shouted down.

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Articles, studies, and posts referenced in the episode can be found on our website.

The Argument's production team includes Ranjani Chakraborty, Mylan Cannon, Isabella Pereira, Angela Tracy, Eli Richman, and Kate Crawford with music by Breakmaster Cylinder. If you want to hear more of The Argument, you can become a subscriber at The ArgumentMag.com.