Earlier this week, Peter Spear, candidate for mayor, sent me the link to this article: "Can Quality Solve L.A.'s Housing Crisis?" The article introduces the acronym QUIMBY--Quality in My Backyard--as an alternative to NIMBY--Not in My Backyard--and YIMBY--Yes in My Backyard--the term for people who want new housing everywhere. The article elaborates on QUIMBYs in this way:
QUIMBYs champion the creation of new housing, but they call for smarter planning, better design, long-term affordability, and a serious commitment to sustainability. It's a vision that blends pragmatism with aspiration, recognizing that cities must grow, but also that when they grow in ways that people actually want to live in--and live next to--it's possible to win over the most hardened NIMBYs.
This illustration is also from the article:
The article is recommended reading.
The concept of QUIMBY is particularly relevant to the proposal for Mill Street Lofts. Those opposing the project because of its hodgepodge design, incompatible size, and inappropriate siting on parkland prone to flooding and located on a dead-end street are accused by proponents of the project of being NIMBYs or worse selfish people who don't want others to have what they have or elitists who don't want people of low or moderate incomes to live in Hudson. In truth, the opponents of Mill Street Lofts would be better described as QUIMBYSs.
We heard from the community that people prefer smaller buildings scattered across different sites, which allows for more gentle density that fits the surrounding neighborhood and allows households seeking affordably priced housing more choice in the neighborhoods they live in.The important words here are these: "more gentle density that fits the surrounding neighborhood." What's proposed for Mill Street in no way meets that standard.
The review of the project continues at tonight's Planning Board meeting. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. It will not be hybrid, but it is likely it will be livestreamed on YouTube. To find the link, click here.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts on this Peter. I’m in full agreement.
ReplyDeleteLots of reasons why this makes sense. According to a recent AI query, the average construction cost per square foot in Hudson, NY, ranges from approximately $130 to $230, depending on the quality of materials and finishes. For a 3-story, 3,600 sq ft home, this translates to a total construction cost between $468,000 and $828,000 per house, excluding land and sitework.
ReplyDeleteEstimated Construction Costs:
Standard Grade ($130–$150/sq ft): $468,000–$540,000
Premium Grade ($150–$190/sq ft): $540,000–$684,000
Luxury Grade ($190–$230/sq ft): $684,000–$828,000
So the money HHA proposed to build two apartment buildings, $220 million dollars, could construct over 300 premium grade 3 story houses. This many houses could contain 600 - 900 housing units, depending on the layout.
Of course, you wouldn't need to build that many and a developer that wants to cram as many people into it's concrete box as it can for purposes of profitability wouldn't work in this scenario.
However, the people that lived there would have a better quality of life. If you combined this with a rent to own or condominium option, rather than continuing the current system which funnels government subsidies into the pockets of developers and landlords, over time families would build equity.