this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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Fuck Cars

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[–] ElleChaise@kbin.social -5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You're speaking from a privileged minority viewpoint, most people don't report living that way in apartments. I've lived extensively in both apartments and suburban homes, suburbs have always provided more peace and quiet. For every day that's been too loud due to lawn machines (a lot of suburbs it's only once a month for context) I've had a dozen more with people partying, stomping, fighting, shouting, grudge starting, complaint making, roach infestation having, shitty corporate landlord owning ruined days in city apartments. And they all costed a lot more. I'm paying half what I would in a city apartment for my suburban townhome with a lawn, and a park, and pool, and walikg trails, conveniently nearby all amenities in my area.

That's the part y'all need to adopt to get people on your side by the way; assure people who like suburbs that your plan isn't to tear down their existing environments for new ones. We're scared shitless you're all gonna try to force us into boxes, many of us will fight violently to oppose such action. Make it clear you're talking only about NEW developments and I think most people will support your cause. I do in principle, but the selfish American in me isn't about to give up my already existing paradise for your apartment block, especially when you provide no answers to the corporate landlord landscape we're operating in. Those of us who have been alive long enough know these plans usually end in lost livelihoods and destroyed dreams, the true benefits only going to the upper echelon of the highest earning capitalists.

[–] Cryophilia@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

Well that's a plain ridiculous fear, you think government thugs are going to go door to door through the suburbs rounding up homeowners and forcing them into apartments?

The idea is to build enough, at a high enough quality, and at a price point, where it's more appealing to new buyers.

[–] kurosawaa@programming.dev 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If they built more apartments, apartments with good sound proofing would be more common. I used to live in Taiwan, and every cheap apartment I lived in had excellent sound proofing.

Once there is more competition in the apartment/condo market, quality will go up.

[–] Fried_out_Kombi@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago

Exactly. When there is a housing shortage, landlords and developers have no meaningful competition, therefore they can offer sub-par housing for too-high prices.

Build more housing, make landlords sweat about vacancy, and you'll see higher-quality units spring up like magic.

My city, Montreal, for instance, has perhaps the most affordable and YIMBY housing market in a major North American city, and the result is rents are cheap (by big city in North America standards), quality of life is very high, and landlords have much less negotiating power. For example, I was able to negotiate my rent down before moving in, and it's also quite rare to see all manner of onerous restrictions like pet bans in apartments here.

When landlords have a credible fear of vacancy, they can't afford to scare off prospective tenants with high rents, poor sound insulation, and pet bans.