Not an uncommon phrase heard in city councils and planning and zoning meetings around the US. It's heard, in my estimate, 9 out of 10 times in wealthy areas where the housing crisis is at Defcon 1. Think Telluride, Aspen, Santa Fe, and the latest is Yountville: America's Fanciest Restaurant Enters the Fight Over Affordable Housing, where the mega star chef of the French Laundry is waging war against an affordable housing development near his restaurant. His claim is that no one asked him what he thought about this project. If that's true, it was a huge miss by the developer. Getting disdain on the table well before a project goes for municipal approval always works better than delaying the battle to the day of the hearing. For one, it gives people an opportunity to weigh in, and feeling genuinely listened to always makes someone feel better. You might also hear something that makes your project better. Second, those municipal officials want to know you tried working with the neighbors. Even if there wasn't total agreement, you reached out and listened. Third, if you talk to enough people, you'll find advocates who can be powerful voices in opposition to those who are against you.
In this story, critics claimed that 300-square-foot studios are unnecessary and unwanted. If you're a waiter or sous chef at the French Laundry, you probably don't want a studio because you can afford something larger. I'm not sure what a waiter at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Napa earns, but I'd wager it's closer to $500,000 than $0. However, wealthy people still want their caramel macchiatos just as much as their Château Coutet, "Premier Cru Classé." Do you think the barista at Starbucks can afford the same type of apartment as the waiter at the French Laundry? Not a chance. They want a studio because that is what they can afford. Without it, they're left with a daily one-hour commute each way.
No matter your political stance, most people agree we're facing an affordability crisis for both renters and home ownership. However, the solutions remain divisive. From firsthand experience, I know that rejecting denser, smaller infill residential developments won't alleviate the crisis. Similarly, rent caps drive investment away to more welcoming locations and tend to reduce the new housing supply, subsequently inflating rents for existing units. It's a tough spot for politicians and will require making a decision on behalf of the people that need it, not the small but vocal constituent that says:
I am not against affordable housing… just not near me.
