[tempestn]

As your sibling comment says, there is only so much market for luxury housing. If the land, permitting, etc. exists to build two houses, then two will get built. And if there's only sufficient demand for one of them to be high-end, then only one will be. (In aggregate on larger scales of course, not literally any given two houses.) It's not necessary to force a given developer to build two houses instead of one; if the economics make sense, and are predictable, the developers will come.

[firesteelrain]

What’s considered luxury housing vs upper middle class?

Like there are plenty of houses marketed as “luxury style” in my area and command $500k-$700k easily but it’s just fancy looking. Not built with any better materials, wood, concrete, drywall or brick that you can get any local Home Depot.

[supertrope]

It’s just puffery for new construction. Every single cookie cutter middle class subdivision calls itself an “estate.” “Affordable housing” is a nicer way of saying low income.

[greenie_beans]

the market logic just proves my point. logging off now bc i'm about to get flamed by YIMBYs and georgists! you can go read my comment history for my argument: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44555384