[MiddleEndian]

>so much that they could only possibly be justified if the population somehow banded together to stop most new housing from being built.

This seems to have actually happened. Consider this simple recent example in Boston:

https://www.universalhub.com/2022/board-rejects-apartment-bu...

People protested to stop twenty-eight units from being built next to a train station on a commercial lot. The zoning board had a 3-2 vote, with three in favor of the development against two who opposed it. However, the law is such that a 3-2 vote is not enough to approve it, so the owner was prevented from building more housing.

Multiple levels of government prevent housing from being created and this issue clearly cascades throughout the entire country.

[Ekaros]

5 story building next to train station... And I realistically would expect at least 7-9 here. Maybe force them to build underground parking making it more expensive, but still, that is sort of area you should aim to densify in future.