And it's not a bad take at all! Some even join the #trainGang in the comments. Anyone up for some radicalization (and knows how to blend in with Canadians)?

Link

    • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      It's a pretty solid take. In many places there has been so much overinvestmenf in real estate that bringing down prices would crash the economy.

      Its only a matter of time before the neolibs stop pretending they're trying to make housing affordable and start talking about prices like the stock market: number go up = good.

      • YoungGramsci [comrade/them]
        ·
        edit-2
        4 years ago

        In Australia, as I'm sure in many other places, the only solutions governments have thought up is "more new houses for first home buyers" aka fucking terrible urban sprawl:

        https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-19/covid-stimulus-triggered-a-land-rush-in-perth-outer-suburbs/12666892

        • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
          ·
          4 years ago

          It is not enough for the antipodean Anglo to demand a yard for himself, but others must be forced to have yards by his NIMBY planning laws.

          In many places in NZ and Aus its literally illegal to build efficient modern housing.

          • YoungGramsci [comrade/them]
            ·
            edit-2
            4 years ago

            Surburbs should definitely be converted with more density, but a yard isn't bad per se. What is sad is when you have good soil and you only have lawn. It's nice to have a few decorative plants — especially if they're water wise — but damn plant a decent crop of something edible, even an easy crop of potatoes or spring onions.

            • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
              ·
              4 years ago

              Yeah, but mandating yards (or gardens) is insane when there are so many unhoused people in major cities.

              • YoungGramsci [comrade/them]
                ·
                4 years ago

                Mandating sounds crazy, but if you've got a space between buildings or a sizeable verge, I'd say that's a place a garden can fit, it doesn't have to be massive.

                As for housing people, in my city and I'd say most others, the issue isn't space so much as a lack of political will and landlords doing landlord bs, like buying and sitting on vacant investment properties.

                • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
                  ·
                  4 years ago

                  Idk about other places, but one city I used to live in would deny building permits unless 35% of the land would be left unbuilt for aesthetic purposes.

            • Mardoniush [she/her]
              ·
              4 years ago

              Communal garden courtyards in apartment blocks can be great. Also the German fashion for tiny sheds and garden plots in large scale public places is an awesome solution. Some people live in them in summer, like a tiny Dacha.

              • YoungGramsci [comrade/them]
                ·
                4 years ago

                This sounds nice, and I would love to see some more courtyard gardens in Australia; sadly a lot of apartments are still built with a mind only to having a few strips of lawn and parking lots.