Great read John. WaPo did an excellent report on how the townhome is beginning to take shape as the dream home for Americans for many of the same reasons you state: low cost, low maintenance, not excessive, etc.. single family detached is great and all and a big yard may have been our parents’ generations’ dream, but that’s slowly falling out of line. Plus, townhome construction is a great way of building with density while still preserving that “independent feel” one might not get in multifamily.
Very true. Thanks for sharing Sam! I'll give that WaPo article a look. I don't necessarily like the idea that we "just need to adjust our expectations", but think it is reasonable to pose the question. But I do think with the way our cities are changing we should think about how we can solve our housing issues with different solutions rather than just one.
Excellent analysis. I particularly liked the point about a shifting expectations for housing. What is appropriate now should be different than what was optimal for prior generations. The zoning issue is also fascinating.
Thanks for your thoughts David. As our societal needs evolve, so should our expectations for housing and cities in general. When you visit other societies, for example Japan, it becomes pretty clear that people just adapt given what housing typologies are available.
Great read John. WaPo did an excellent report on how the townhome is beginning to take shape as the dream home for Americans for many of the same reasons you state: low cost, low maintenance, not excessive, etc.. single family detached is great and all and a big yard may have been our parents’ generations’ dream, but that’s slowly falling out of line. Plus, townhome construction is a great way of building with density while still preserving that “independent feel” one might not get in multifamily.
Very true. Thanks for sharing Sam! I'll give that WaPo article a look. I don't necessarily like the idea that we "just need to adjust our expectations", but think it is reasonable to pose the question. But I do think with the way our cities are changing we should think about how we can solve our housing issues with different solutions rather than just one.
Excellent analysis. I particularly liked the point about a shifting expectations for housing. What is appropriate now should be different than what was optimal for prior generations. The zoning issue is also fascinating.
Thanks for your thoughts David. As our societal needs evolve, so should our expectations for housing and cities in general. When you visit other societies, for example Japan, it becomes pretty clear that people just adapt given what housing typologies are available.
There's a huge housing shortage in the U.S. (full stop).
The root causes of the shortage (and how best to address them) are the only reasonable items open for discussion.
I’d love to hear more about your perspective on this topic Marshall. Thanks for sharing.