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baxterstate t1_j5aiumb wrote

Reply to comment by IamSauerKraut in MaineHousing ready to spend $21 million to provide overnight shelters this winter by Shake-Spear4666

You don't have to zone the entire town that way, just a couple of acres in each town. The people who wait on you in restaurants, work in the big box stores, take care of your elderly, etc. can't afford to buy a single family on a big lot. Rents are also equally unaffordable.

Neither do will the kids of those who do. Most young people can't afford to buy a single family costing $328,000, (which is the median price of a 1 family in Maine). Most young people don't have the requisite 10% for a down payment or enough income to qualify for the payments.

We need to make it possible for builders to build more multifamily homes all over Maine to provide affordable first time homes for buyers and stable rents.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j5aloan wrote

>We need to make it possible for builders to build more multifamily homes all over Maine to provide affordable first time homes for buyers and stable rents.

If builders are not building new housing then folks need to look at why that is the case. Hint: it is not because builders cannot turn a profit.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j5atbe7 wrote

>You don't have to zone the entire town that way, just a couple of acres

That's called what, spot zoning? Prohibited. There is a reason it is called zoning.

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baxterstate t1_j5bvcid wrote

That's called what, spot zoning? Prohibited. There is a reason it is called zoning.

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You are mistaken. In every city and town different parts have different zoning. For example, only specific parts have commercial zoning. The zoning can be changed. Towns I lived in in MA sometimes would change the minimum allowable lot size.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j5c3p72 wrote

>In every city and town different parts have different zoning

I'm fairly certain that in Maine there is case law wherein “spot zoning” is the singling out of one lot or a small area for different treatment under the zoning code even though the lot receiving different treatment is indistinguishable from surrounding parcels with respect to physical characteristics and potential uses.

As to MA, spot zoning is, as the link states, unlawful. If it was allowed to occur, it was only because no one challenged it. Judges rarely allow it for small, house-size properties. https://www.phillips-angley.com/blog/2021/05/spot-zoning-what-you-should-know/

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IamSauerKraut t1_j5alawd wrote

>$328,000, (which is the median price of a 1 family in Maine).

The median price swings by quite a bit amongst the websites. Neighborhoodscout uses ~$200,000. Zillow nearly $400,000.

I find the use of median to be misleading. But it does point to half of the prices being below that figure. Using average, imho, would provide a better - and truer - figure.

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baxterstate t1_j5aqmy8 wrote

I’m sure the lower prices for single family homes are in isolated, far away areas.

I’d like to see more housing built where there are jobs.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j5at29f wrote

I know folks who worked at BIW who lived over by China Lake. They were resilient.

When I was in high school, my summer job was 14 miles distance but I had no way to get there except my bicycle. I did not spend my time whining about it. The next year I found a different job.

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P-Townie t1_j5bfjmk wrote

Ok Boomer. Times have changed.

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IamSauerKraut t1_j5c8zlx wrote

>Times have changed.

Right.

Few complained as heartily as the keyboard whiners of today.

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[deleted] t1_j5bvth2 wrote

[deleted]

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baxterstate t1_j5c081s wrote

Yeah! Stick all the poor people in one place!

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Absolutely! Put people without cars near public transportation. What's wrong with that?

Go to Europe and you'll find that most people live in the cities, leaving a lot of land for farms.

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