> The strength of NIMBYs here is dramatically higher than in New York. That is supported structurally through the fragmentation of local politics.
Also the lack of developers. Probably owing to concentrated land ownership, e.g. the Getty family. New York's structural consolidation was driven, in part, by private companies developing real estate and transportation systems.
Developers seem to play a unique political role in organizing, in absentee, renters. Homeowners tend to self organize. This is because (a) they bet a lot of money on their houses, (b) have the time and money to politically organize, evidenced by (a), and (c) stay put for a while. Renters don't naturally self-organise. Developers naturally counterbalance homeowners by seeking to (x) increase housing supply and (y) consolidate small plots into larger ones, thereby also (z) driving density.
Also the lack of developers. Probably owing to concentrated land ownership, e.g. the Getty family. New York's structural consolidation was driven, in part, by private companies developing real estate and transportation systems.
Developers seem to play a unique political role in organizing, in absentee, renters. Homeowners tend to self organize. This is because (a) they bet a lot of money on their houses, (b) have the time and money to politically organize, evidenced by (a), and (c) stay put for a while. Renters don't naturally self-organise. Developers naturally counterbalance homeowners by seeking to (x) increase housing supply and (y) consolidate small plots into larger ones, thereby also (z) driving density.