[SR2Z]

This is not quite true.

It's entirely correct to say that cities are the main obstacle to building housing, but it's not true to say that everyone wants to build more.

Whether or not a project pencils out depends on local demand and interest rates. An unfortunately common sight in SF is that developers start construction before getting all the required permits to finish, then the city drags its feet for half a decade, then when the permits are finally granted the building no longer pencils and the foundation or skeleton are left to rot.

The timeliness is important; the goal for most finished buildings is that they provide so much supply that building new ones isn't financially viable.

[Schiendelman]

"Everyone" as in "nearly every project is proposed to the maximum allowed for its site." Almost every project built would be larger if permitted.