tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079297043552042968.post1182099392260825751..comments2024-03-28T14:02:40.132-04:00Comments on Discovering Urbanism: Another affordability factorDaniel Nairnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14127732825472374125noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079297043552042968.post-35135154777878393442008-12-17T09:37:00.000-05:002008-12-17T09:37:00.000-05:00please do send that pic. Sounds like you have some...please do send that pic. Sounds like you have some extensive experience in affordable housing policies.Daniel Nairnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127732825472374125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079297043552042968.post-1013866871344044812008-12-17T08:29:00.000-05:002008-12-17T08:29:00.000-05:00Daniel, I'm glad you've made the connection betwee...Daniel, I'm glad you've made the connection between affordable housing and living space. Typically, governments with successful affordable housing programs allow for the affordable units to be greatly reduced in size; that plus a density bonus plus an overall landscape that is attractive to build in usually gets you enough affordable units. <BR/><BR/>(In a report we did for New Jersey's affordable housing agency, we estimate that an affordable unit half the size of a market unit gets you a 40% cost reduction on those units right off the bat - not 50% because there are certain fixed costs associated with various systems that every house needs, like HVAC or kitchen - and then from there, it doesn't take too generous of a density bonus to completely offset the burden to the developer of constructing the affordable units. I'll have to send you a pic of a development in Fairfax County, just a couple of hours from you, where the twin affordable units are nicely designed so as to look like one market unit, and therefore blend right in.)LHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02127870226377459490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079297043552042968.post-70232586129080352552008-12-16T08:40:00.000-05:002008-12-16T08:40:00.000-05:00I completely agree, Zed. It's tough to sort out ho...I completely agree, Zed. It's tough to sort out how much housing is a 'necessity' and how much additional space is a 'luxury' but if a city wants to take affordable housing for its residents serious, this really should be done. Larger houses are also more expensive to heat/cool.<BR/><BR/>And, LH, those are some pretty stunning numbers!Daniel Nairnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127732825472374125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079297043552042968.post-77463615370622398102008-12-16T06:21:00.000-05:002008-12-16T06:21:00.000-05:00Daniel - good post and nice pie charts! Btw, loca...Daniel - good post and nice pie charts! Btw, location efficient mortgages (whereby lenders adjust their usual "% of income" formulas to account for commuting costs) are gaining steam.<BR/><BR/>To Zed's point, according to <A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/story/61523/" REL="nofollow">this website</A>, new houses built in 1950 provided 290 SF of space per person; by 2003, it was 900 SF - 3+ times more! Granted, this is new construction, but the point is that we're consuming a lot more house than we used to.LHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02127870226377459490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5079297043552042968.post-36104958069990588062008-12-15T22:04:00.000-05:002008-12-15T22:04:00.000-05:00Are people 'buying' more house than they used to? ...Are people 'buying' more house than they used to? That is, does the average renting family live in more space than they used to? Do they have more rooms, more garage space, more garden, and separate bedrooms for every family member?<BR/><BR/>Not that I am suggesting renters should live in sub-standard conditions. But, I think there needs to be some consideration as to the difference between needs and wants. When we choose to spend more of our income on wants, then it is not quite the simple equation it once was.Zedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04841334276866857245noreply@blogger.com