Public Realm Development and Sustainability Guidebook… we need one of those too
I recently came across the following apparently logical article about what development density may mean for some folks:
The strongest case for urban density isn’t aesthetics, it’s math
https://fullstackeconomics.com/the-strongest-case-for-urban-density-isnt-aesthetics-its-math/
Russians and rich folks consuming natural resources to build monster homes, condos, apartments, hotels, and STRs that often have a lot of unoccupied time and volume is math. But it’s sucky unethical math!
I am really just getting up to speed on the multibillion dollar Asheville development front in many ways. Of course my family owning T.S. Morrison & Co. (39 N. Lexington Avenue) for many years and my Dad being a founder of the Asheville Downtown Association is a personal connection to the modern Asheville value proposition.
The above article is from a website produced by two highly qualified libertarian writers.
I had no idea the following forum took place:
Leveraging public dollars, co-op ownership: Leadership Asheville Forum addresses affordable housing
I can’t pay the Leadership Asheville Forum $40 fee, but I guess that’s what it takes to join these development conversations. The following quotes tie into the above ’supply, supply, supply’ of big box apartment / condo complexes that seem to feature zero open space and butt right up against roadways in Asheville.
“We have to have more stock,” said attorney Derek Allen of Allen Stahl + Kilbourne, answering a question from an attendee. “We have to get the units there. We can’t keep up with it at the pace that we’re introducing new stock into the marketplace and that is going to be the number one driver of those rents and those home prices coming down.”
[…]
“I’m coming to this educated group of advisory leaders (seriously?) in our community and I’m saying when you see those projects and you see them get sideways, learn about it, and if you’re so inclined come show up and say ‘you know what, housing and housing stock is important to us,’” Allen said.
After all, any housing stock en masse is good libertarian math. If you use the term red herring (unless you’re on the right side… the public good side) about valid public realm options, that means the alternative imagination is bad and wrong. Because there is no alternatives and those alternatives and bad and wrong red herrings in contrast to the cool Americanness of supply side economics.
Allen Stahl + Kilbourne has a really interesting practice portfolio, I kind of sense a libertarian flair:
https://asklawnc.com/our-practice
I think this supply side approach to housing for mainly out of area folks who have had more success than Asheville poor people and whose originating regions have been worn out and are experiencing Anthropogenic Climate due to the ‘exhaust of our avarice’ (GHGs) is what’s insane?
Because I am unfortunately old enough to remember stuff like voodoo economics and how America became what it is today… at least as to since Vietnam?
This ideological battle in the background of Asheville development should be elucidated so there’s no misguidance. I’m not sure why there isn’t a Public Realm Guidebook to Development and Sustainability, but I guess one needs to be published… pronto.
There’s a lot of need for managing misguidance and I am an ethics guy due to my experience with former congressman Charles Taylor. Managing misguidance is about smell tests, and usually everyone wants their poop to smell like roses.
In the near future we need to go over this term ‘supergentrification’ as well:
Can Cities Be Saved From ‘Supergentrification’? Aspen May Offer a Roadmap
