Reposted by Tim Vilinskis
👋 new followers! #GreatestHits from the Other Site to get acquainted.
A 3750 sq. ft. McMansion is legal just about everywhere in America. But the exact same lot, with the exact same number of residential square feet, divided into eight tiny houses? No!
www.fastcompany.com/90348777/thi...
A 3750 sq. ft. McMansion is legal just about everywhere in America. But the exact same lot, with the exact same number of residential square feet, divided into eight tiny houses? No!
www.fastcompany.com/90348777/thi...
www.fastcompany.com
November 22, 2024 at 8:57 PM
👋 new followers! #GreatestHits from the Other Site to get acquainted.
A 3750 sq. ft. McMansion is legal just about everywhere in America. But the exact same lot, with the exact same number of residential square feet, divided into eight tiny houses? No!
www.fastcompany.com/90348777/thi...
A 3750 sq. ft. McMansion is legal just about everywhere in America. But the exact same lot, with the exact same number of residential square feet, divided into eight tiny houses? No!
www.fastcompany.com/90348777/thi...
10 new cottages going up on a 1/2 acre lot in Portland.
October 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
10 new cottages going up on a 1/2 acre lot in Portland.
Typical. A myriad of reasons why his neighborhood should keep additional people out, but no recognition of the harm inflicted on those in need of housing or Connecticut's economic viability as a whole.
ctexaminer.com/2025/09/27/s...
ctexaminer.com/2025/09/27/s...
Stamford's Comprehensive Plan is Bad News for Waterside
To the Editor: Over the last 10 years I have personally observed a significant jump in occupancy, congestion, noise, unhealthy living conditions, blight, pollution and sirens in the Waterside area […]
ctexaminer.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Typical. A myriad of reasons why his neighborhood should keep additional people out, but no recognition of the harm inflicted on those in need of housing or Connecticut's economic viability as a whole.
ctexaminer.com/2025/09/27/s...
ctexaminer.com/2025/09/27/s...
This is the way. Keep it simple, just build more housing, even if it's all lower-cost market-rate.
September 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This is the way. Keep it simple, just build more housing, even if it's all lower-cost market-rate.
It's not "less than perfect". The Fair Share portion gets some things fundamentally wrong. We need to take the time to get state law right. Because, as we know, bad state law is very difficult to change when it benefits special interests.
No one likes the moratorium process. But this isn't about getting your ideal policy passed. Nothing in 5002 is anyone's ideal policy. It's a compromise of a compromise. But you do what you can to get something meaningful passed, rather than carp about the details you think are less than perfect.
September 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
It's not "less than perfect". The Fair Share portion gets some things fundamentally wrong. We need to take the time to get state law right. Because, as we know, bad state law is very difficult to change when it benefits special interests.
There is so much wrong with this statement. Single family only zoning is social engineering, it violates private property rights, and it is not a contract.
ctexaminer.com/2025/07/22/s...
ctexaminer.com/2025/07/22/s...
August 31, 2025 at 12:06 PM
There is so much wrong with this statement. Single family only zoning is social engineering, it violates private property rights, and it is not a contract.
ctexaminer.com/2025/07/22/s...
ctexaminer.com/2025/07/22/s...
That's unfortunate, because the proposed changes are entirely reasonable.
August 31, 2025 at 11:39 AM
That's unfortunate, because the proposed changes are entirely reasonable.
Every single state that has a builder’s remedy on the books also offers localities a safe harbor with an approved locally adopted zoning plan.
Why is Connecticut different? An 8-30g safe harbor needs to be on the table this upcoming special session.
Why is Connecticut different? An 8-30g safe harbor needs to be on the table this upcoming special session.
August 9, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Every single state that has a builder’s remedy on the books also offers localities a safe harbor with an approved locally adopted zoning plan.
Why is Connecticut different? An 8-30g safe harbor needs to be on the table this upcoming special session.
Why is Connecticut different? An 8-30g safe harbor needs to be on the table this upcoming special session.
Reposted by Tim Vilinskis
To be fair, Ryan appears to be the only politician in Hartford actively seeking a reasonable "grand bargain" on housing. Face it, the Fair Share portion of HB5002 is special interest legislation for the big non-profit & LIHTC developers. Small scale infill for-sale developers are left in the cold.
August 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
To be fair, Ryan appears to be the only politician in Hartford actively seeking a reasonable "grand bargain" on housing. Face it, the Fair Share portion of HB5002 is special interest legislation for the big non-profit & LIHTC developers. Small scale infill for-sale developers are left in the cold.
Good luck with the giant 8-30g project with no public amenities. By comparison, the original proposal was very reasonable. But NIMBYs just can't help themselves, it's in their nature to oppose everything.
westfaironline.com/fairfield/th...
westfaironline.com/fairfield/th...
The Hamlet at Saugatuck developer chooses appeal, affordable housing route
The original Hamlet at Saugatuck project in Westport called for 57 housing units and 57 hotel rooms. Now it's an
westfaironline.com
August 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Good luck with the giant 8-30g project with no public amenities. By comparison, the original proposal was very reasonable. But NIMBYs just can't help themselves, it's in their nature to oppose everything.
westfaironline.com/fairfield/th...
westfaironline.com/fairfield/th...
Reposted by Tim Vilinskis
New report from @harvard-jchs.bsky.social offers key reforms to unlock middle housing in Massachusetts;
🏡Allow in all residential areas
🚗Reform min parking reqs
📐Reduce min lot sizes
🏘️Reduce setbacks
📜Streamline review
🏗️Remove commercial code requirements
www.remainplaces.com/post/small-s...
🏡Allow in all residential areas
🚗Reform min parking reqs
📐Reduce min lot sizes
🏘️Reduce setbacks
📜Streamline review
🏗️Remove commercial code requirements
www.remainplaces.com/post/small-s...
Small-Scale Housing, Big-Time Solution: The Missing Middle Blueprint in Massachusetts
Massachusetts needs 222,000 new homes in the next decade. Right now, we’re building at a pace that barely gets us to half of what’s needed. Even with recent reforms like the MBTA Communities Act and t...
www.remainplaces.com
August 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
New report from @harvard-jchs.bsky.social offers key reforms to unlock middle housing in Massachusetts;
🏡Allow in all residential areas
🚗Reform min parking reqs
📐Reduce min lot sizes
🏘️Reduce setbacks
📜Streamline review
🏗️Remove commercial code requirements
www.remainplaces.com/post/small-s...
🏡Allow in all residential areas
🚗Reform min parking reqs
📐Reduce min lot sizes
🏘️Reduce setbacks
📜Streamline review
🏗️Remove commercial code requirements
www.remainplaces.com/post/small-s...
This simple trick would super charge ADU construction in Connecticut. Property owners should be allowed to covert ADUs to condos. This would allow separate financing and even would allow a sale. I hear it's becoming very popular in WA.
www.rhawa.org/blog/unlocki...
www.rhawa.org/blog/unlocki...
July 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
This simple trick would super charge ADU construction in Connecticut. Property owners should be allowed to covert ADUs to condos. This would allow separate financing and even would allow a sale. I hear it's becoming very popular in WA.
www.rhawa.org/blog/unlocki...
www.rhawa.org/blog/unlocki...
Reposted by Tim Vilinskis
"We clipped the wings of some of our local communities because they were a little too NIMBY... We reduced parking requirements. We worked with the fire marshals to allow 6-story apartments with single staircase."
- Governor Greg Gianforte (R)
📍Montana
- Governor Greg Gianforte (R)
📍Montana
July 9, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"We clipped the wings of some of our local communities because they were a little too NIMBY... We reduced parking requirements. We worked with the fire marshals to allow 6-story apartments with single staircase."
- Governor Greg Gianforte (R)
📍Montana
- Governor Greg Gianforte (R)
📍Montana
They may have similar ideas, but neither understands
Gov. Ned Lamont and New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, both exploring runs in 2026, agreed they have similar ideas on local control over zoning.
ctmirror.org/2025/07/08/c...
ctmirror.org/2025/07/08/c...
July 10, 2025 at 12:14 PM
They may have similar ideas, but neither understands
Reposted by Tim Vilinskis
Over 40% of households in Norwalk, Connecticut are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
That’s why Thomas Blyth is calling for “lowercase-a” affordable housing. Modest homes that are affordable, and not just through government programs.
That’s why Thomas Blyth is calling for “lowercase-a” affordable housing. Modest homes that are affordable, and not just through government programs.
July 1, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Over 40% of households in Norwalk, Connecticut are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
That’s why Thomas Blyth is calling for “lowercase-a” affordable housing. Modest homes that are affordable, and not just through government programs.
That’s why Thomas Blyth is calling for “lowercase-a” affordable housing. Modest homes that are affordable, and not just through government programs.
Stop beating around the bush, tell us how you really feel.
New England land-use policy has a sort of primal evilness that is unmatched anywhere else in the US. A toxic combination of "I got mine" selfishness, xenophobic stupidity, and presumptuous "I should have a say in everything" busybody culture.
www.newstimes.com/news/article...
www.newstimes.com/news/article...
Plan to build 21 senior apartments on 5-acre lot at Newtown-Southbury border decried as ‘only greed’
“There’s no need for the zone change. Only greed,” said nearby resident Edward Friedman.
www.newstimes.com
June 19, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Stop beating around the bush, tell us how you really feel.
HB 5002 in not reasonable, nor does it show any signs of systematic, comprehensive, or holistic planning. It also disregards first principles of economics. In my opinion - they blew it.
Connecticut NIMBYs are struggling to oppose HB5002 in part because it’s so reasonable:
✅ Work Live Ride is an opt-in and towns get to decide where their TOD district is
✅ Towns Take the Lead lets downs decide where to plan for homes
✅ parking reform is deregulation w/a study process built in
✅ Work Live Ride is an opt-in and towns get to decide where their TOD district is
✅ Towns Take the Lead lets downs decide where to plan for homes
✅ parking reform is deregulation w/a study process built in
Exactly. Finally someone is able to pinpoint what really matters: legislative minutiae
patch.com/connecticut/...
patch.com/connecticut/...
June 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
HB 5002 in not reasonable, nor does it show any signs of systematic, comprehensive, or holistic planning. It also disregards first principles of economics. In my opinion - they blew it.
Reposted by Tim Vilinskis
Amazing to see this, and crucially it also addresses lot width (frontages). The lot size provision says no mandates of greater than 3k square feet, but if the width and depth provisions are to be read conjunctively, the largest dimensions a locality could mandate would be 30'x 75', or 2,250 sq. ft.
June 1, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Amazing to see this, and crucially it also addresses lot width (frontages). The lot size provision says no mandates of greater than 3k square feet, but if the width and depth provisions are to be read conjunctively, the largest dimensions a locality could mandate would be 30'x 75', or 2,250 sq. ft.
CT already has the Builder’s Remedy (8-30g). What WA now has, that we don’t, is state housing targets and the option for localities to write their own zoning plan to meet those targets to avoid the Builder’s Remedy.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/14/t...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/14/t...
The Builder’s Remedy is Coming to Washington State - The Urbanist
# Senate Bill 5148, signed into law Tuesday, sets up a brand new framework of accountability around state housing law. The bill includes a so-called
www.theurbanist.org
May 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM
CT already has the Builder’s Remedy (8-30g). What WA now has, that we don’t, is state housing targets and the option for localities to write their own zoning plan to meet those targets to avoid the Builder’s Remedy.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/14/t...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/14/t...
Homes should absolutely electrify. Natural gas should be used to make sure we have abundant, reliable, and affordable electricity.
⚠️ The gas grid death spiral in action.
As more homes electrify, gas demand falls. Prices rise. Disconnect fees go up. Fewer customers = higher costs for those left behind.
Frank Energy just quit NZ’s residential gas market — a textbook case.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...
As more homes electrify, gas demand falls. Prices rise. Disconnect fees go up. Fewer customers = higher costs for those left behind.
Frank Energy just quit NZ’s residential gas market — a textbook case.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...
'Death spiral' for gas: Frank Energy turns off switch
A gas retailer will stop supplying customers next year, amid what Consumer NZ says could be the start of the end.
www.rnz.co.nz
April 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Homes should absolutely electrify. Natural gas should be used to make sure we have abundant, reliable, and affordable electricity.
I agree. Approach 2 of the CT Fair Share Housing study illustrates this point. It shows housing gaps at <30% AMI and >120% AMI. The gap at <30% AMI needs to be publicly funded and the gap at >120% can be built by the free market with effective zoning reform.
April 18, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I agree. Approach 2 of the CT Fair Share Housing study illustrates this point. It shows housing gaps at <30% AMI and >120% AMI. The gap at <30% AMI needs to be publicly funded and the gap at >120% can be built by the free market with effective zoning reform.
Reposted by Tim Vilinskis
Not a single time in this article glorifying the need for sprawl to address the US's affordable housing crisis is there a mention of the vast transportation costs of sprawling living patterns. Nor is there mention of the fact that sprawl is directly linked to disinvestment in urban cores.
America Needs More Sprawl to Fix Its Housing Crisis
The word has become an epithet for garish, reckless growth — but to fix the housing crisis, the country needs more of it.
www.nytimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Not a single time in this article glorifying the need for sprawl to address the US's affordable housing crisis is there a mention of the vast transportation costs of sprawling living patterns. Nor is there mention of the fact that sprawl is directly linked to disinvestment in urban cores.
Who would have thought the opposition to this reasonable plan was drummed up by a NIMBY disinformation campaign.
youtu.be/cOYLFWNpedo?...
youtu.be/cOYLFWNpedo?...
April 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Who would have thought the opposition to this reasonable plan was drummed up by a NIMBY disinformation campaign.
youtu.be/cOYLFWNpedo?...
youtu.be/cOYLFWNpedo?...
Who's paying for all of this below-market-rate housing? Towns already have sky high property taxes, they can't be expected to foot the bill. The state is broke. Developer set-asides require abnormally high market rents to subsidize BMR units.
www.newstimes.com/connecticut/...
www.newstimes.com/connecticut/...
See how many housing units your Connecticut town would build under a new 'Fair Share' report
A new 'Fair Share' report seeks to divide Connecticut's total housing need among its 169 towns and cities.
www.newstimes.com
April 9, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Who's paying for all of this below-market-rate housing? Towns already have sky high property taxes, they can't be expected to foot the bill. The state is broke. Developer set-asides require abnormally high market rents to subsidize BMR units.
www.newstimes.com/connecticut/...
www.newstimes.com/connecticut/...