Market Urbanism MUsings January 27, 2017

(Baltimore’s McElderry Park neighborhood is a reminder of the ongoing need for revitalization in many urban areas. / photo by Scott Beyer)

1. This week at Market Urbanism:

If Landlords Can Profit, Homes Must Be Great Investments, Right? by Emily Hamilton

A childless couple might purchase a four-bedroom home in a good school district for the future, meaning that they end up over-consuming housing for their yet unborn children. If this hypothetical couple decided to rent until their children were school-age instead, they would likely be able to save and invest a substantial amount by spending less on housing in the near term.

The Disconnect Between Liberal Aspirations And Liberal Housing Policy Is Killing Coastal U.S. Cities by Shane Phillips

There really is something inherently flawed in the way we’ve approached housing policy for the past several decades (at least), and I would argue that it comes down to a kind of cognitive dissonance on three key issues….

2. Announcement

Market Urbanism reader Kyle Zheng alerted us to his blog TwoFiveSeven.org. It includes a “Master City” page that connects readers, in very user-friendly fashion, to just about every urban issues blog in America. There’s even a built-in feature to add any blog he may’ve missed. This site is a great resource for urbanists far and wide.

3. Where’s Scott?

Scott Beyer has arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area, settling in the Merritt Park neighborhood of Oakland. His two Forbes articles this week were America’s ‘Inner City’ Problem, As Seen In One Baltimore Neighborhood and The Case For Localizing Federal Transportation Policy

This underlies a longtime trend, in which states of largely rural and suburban character get more federal funding per tax dollar paid than urban ones. It is particularly pronounced for transportation funding.

Scott also did a radio interview about his cross-country trip, on Sacramento’s KFBK Home Show. He appears at the 20:40 mark.

4. At the Market Urbanism Facebook Group

Elizabeth Lasky wants to start a political meme: “Mothers for more housing”

Brendon Harre writes a piece asking what is the secret to Tokyo’s afordable housing?

Nirad Gupta also posts about affordability in Tokyo

Joe McKinney asks What is a Startup Society?

Matthew Carson on the decline of indoor malls 

Mike Field on how renter’s can be affordability advocates

Rafael Solari wants to know what people think about Kevin Erdmann’s thesis that there was no housing bubble

Susan Somers on Republicans’ attempts to thwart HUD’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing

Adam Millsap agrees with Ed Glaeser’s theory on buses being better than rail

via John Morris renters getting taxpayer guarantees 

via Roland Stephen How Denver pushed down rents citywide

via Vincent Geloso On gentrification, inequality and zoning

via Stuart Smith Uber drivers are sleeping in their cars

via Krishan Madan Nimbys vs the family unit 

5. Elsewhere

LA Times: Chargers move is a reminder that it doesn’t pay for cities to do business with the NFL

Reason: Trump Is Wrong About Crime in Chicago (and His Voters Are Wrong About Crime Everywhere Else Too)

6. Stephen Smith‘s tweet of the week: