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by pydry 3 days ago
getting rid of the SF laundromat had no impact on the area's desirability. it simply increased the supply of apartments to live in the area.

if your property's value remains unaffected by the supply of properties nearby you will be indifferent to it. in fact, if it's desirable not to you but to others you will be inclined to yield it because your tax bill jumped.

1 comments

> getting rid of the SF laundromat had no impact on the area's desirability.

I think this is a crazy take. Why do some areas become more valuable? Clearly it is because dilapidated amenities leave and in demand ones move in. Removing the laundromat was textbook gentrification. New housing is itself an amenity and it also brings people with money who will support and grow other nearby amenities which increases desirability.

I believe it's common knowledge that SF got popular for reasons that are entirely unrelated to its redevelopment of historic laundromats.