Forget private developers—cities and states could just build their own housing to solve the crisis. In New York, now there’s a bill to do it.

8 comments

1. “Let’s create so much regulation that only we can build housing!”

2. I think they are wanting a return to “low income housing” , basically “the projects” like we saw in the Big Cities in the 1970’s. Watch that movie “Candy Man”, the original and its filmed in one of those “Projects”, great movie. Projects were sorta abandoned because the over-site was so bad and they ended up becoming fortresses for drug lords. Now, its private apartments where the tenants rent is paid for by the Govt. partially or full.

3. NYC is the landlord with the most violations, including lead contamination. NYC does not belong in housing business.

4. Affordable housing is already constructed via non-profit housing authorities. The existing framework in place using low income tax credits works well, it’s just under funded. So rather than examine building codes, zoning, and permitting to see if they can make changes to help increase affordability they instead think that they can do the job better than all of the existing organizations that already do this. This is like putting the theatre department in charge of building affordable housing. And why do the citizens of the city want to become slumlords, because that is exactly what this housing will become. Good luck and good riddance to more bad ideas.

5. lol it’s called the projects… this isn’t a new concept

6. Generally good idea all around.

   Treating housing as an investment or commodity will always result in it being too expensive. Covering human needs is more important.

7. Isn’t the main issue with the housing crises that towns and cities are stopping people who want to build housing, from building housing.

   Seems putting housing production directly in the hands of municipalities will actually be worse 

8. Look up Pruitt-Igoe.

   Careful what you wish for.

   Edit spelling.