Op-Ed in the Arizona Republic
I’m still working on the monthly data update. In the meantime, here’s an op-ed I wrote for the Arizona Republic this morning.
tl;dr: You can’t stop your city from changing by freezing its structural form any more than you can stop your kids from growing by refusing to buy them new clothes. The results of trying are similar.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2023/02/14/phoenix-needs-flexible-zoning-remain-affordable-vibrant/69900947007/
Where is the water going to come from?
Good article Kevin. I noticed on your Twitter feed that you seem to be getting pushback from the usual assortment of NIMBY idiots because of it. That's a good thing, because the more exposure pro-zoning types get the crazier they sound. Before I ask you to start picking fights with Randal O'Toole (oh please, please pick a fight with him, please, please....) I noticed that you mention how the density of some older Phoenix neighborhoods is 3.5 to 5 houses per acre. Although that's consistent with the American average for house lot sizes it's still fairly low density. It's easy to speculate that large lot minimums AND single-family zoning regulations create pernicious effect on housing costs.
Speaking of density, what's up with the huge patches of open space in Gilbert? Like due east of the Estates at Spectrum? For the record, I know squat about Phoenix---only visited it in the 90's.