The Indicator from Planet Money How to build abundantly
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May 27, 2025 Discover the challenges of building affordable housing in major cities like San Francisco, where soaring costs and shifting definitions of affordability complicate solutions. Learn about the Tehanan housing complex's success, achieved through streamlined regulations. The discussion highlights the paradox of local governance in housing decisions and contrasts approaches from cities like Houston and New York. Explore the delicate balance between building regulations and innovation, using a creative chainsaw metaphor!
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Zoning Limits Raise Prices
- Restrictive zoning constrains housing supply in high-demand cities, causing prices to rise.
- Rising demand plus supply constraints inevitably push housing costs upward.
Tehanan Affordable Housing Success
- The Tehanan apartment complex in San Francisco was built in just three years at under $400,000 per unit.
- It provides 145 studio units for homeless people and overcame usual high costs and delays.
Fast-Track Housing With Zoning Law
- To fast-track affordable housing, ease zoning restrictions and reduce lengthy permit processes.
- Limit nimbyism by cutting down excessive community input that delays construction.
