[geoffbrown2014]

I don't think housing density is THE controlling factor in housing affordability. I would think location swamps density as an affordability input. And I think that home ownership as a means to social inclusion is an interesting idea, but to assert that reducing property size will lower prices and encourage whites to accept blacks into their communities seems fairly unproven territory. Prior to regular successful integration trials somewhere I think to take the connection as a forgone, its gone on long enough, conclusion is premature. The article did little to bolster the argument for either. I live near Chicago and to think if people in an expensive suburb like Hinsdale, (tear down only places on tiny lots can run 750k or more) would subdivide their property so that lower/middle income people could build and move in and presumably socially integrate seems problematic and not just from race. The difficulty of the city in serving the increased population and construction would likely dramatically effect affordability, quality of life and would likely be an urban planning disaster. The author is basically asking rich people to voluntarily reduce their quality of life so that lower income people can presumably get the halo effect of living amongst them. Two words spring to mind, white flight.

[naveen99]

I wonder what would happen if the state bought some of these tear down lots in hinsdale and put up a high rise low income apartments they're instead similar to requiring low income housing in apartments and busing kids to different schools for integration. In principle they could require low income housing in rich neighborhoods by same logic. Maybe they tried and failed already...

Edit: I guess you could also require some $30 / night rooms in 5-star hotels. And require some $30 seats in 1st class in airplanes. I will show myself out now...

[naveen99]

I agree with you. Location trumps density in most places. However if the surveillance state can remove petty and violent crime from the equation, we may get a revitalization of lower cost neighborhoods. Not that i want the surveillance state, but may as well look for the silver lining.