Skizzy_Mars t1_j6jhg03 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 7:45 PM

Reply to comment by pillbinge in Maura Healey wants to solve the state’s housing crisis. Here’s step one. by _Hack_The_Planet_

I didn't say the US was close to either, just chose a contrasting example of public housing since we're making low effort posts.

Why do you need to force developers to do anything? Public housing doesn't mean you make the developers work for free. If we decided that public housing should be beautiful and long lasting (and were willing to pay for it, which we aren't), I'm sure there would be a long line of developers bidding on the projects.

pillbinge t1_j6jmgz0 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 8:16 PM

But that's like someone saying "the government should have healthcare", and someone pointing to the Tuskegee Study. We have examples of public housing in the US. We know what it looks like. A lot of public housing in Europe isn't what you linked to, either.

>Why do you need to force developers to do anything?

Because they develop in short-sighted ways, and that fucks everyone. They're building on land, which means it's limited and subject to public opinion, to say the least. I wouldn't force anyone to design a cup, painting, or so on, but if we're talking about a necessity that's inelastic, then we should come together to figure something out. No reason localities can't actually put thought into their building codes instead of just adopting whatever people decided elsewhere, which is really what happens.

Skizzy_Mars t1_j6jq8qz wrote on January 30, 2023 at 8:39 PM

Why wouldn't we strive to match one of the best examples of public housing? Why bother doing anything if we can't at least try to make it a bit better than last time?

I don't really think that taking bids on a pre-determined design is "forcing" the developer to do anything. They don't have to bid on the project. The design and build don't have to be one contact fulfilled by one entity. Public housing isn't a charitable act driven by a developer, it is a government contract that is bid on and fulfilled by a developer, architect, etc.

pillbinge t1_j6k38vz wrote on January 30, 2023 at 10:00 PM

I'm totally with you. I'm just of the opinion that this would be 20-30 years down the road at best.

I don't think forcing bids on predetermined designs if forcing anything. I'm big on that and hadn't considered that process. Shame on me! But we're talking about force. I think we're on the same page.

I'm for government force in this case. I'm just for force in ways I want, and I think there are too many NIMBYs who are all heart, no head. Never mind that these modern 5/1 monstrosities tend to make things bland and useless, and real businesses can't really move in.