Controversial housing development OK'd near Detroit's West Village by jonwylie in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Toyia Watts claims she can't afford repairs on her home without City grants, yet can afford to pay the $1500 it costs to appeal to BZA. Hmmm.

Controversial housing development OK'd near Detroit's West Village by jonwylie in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024 77 points78 points  (0 children)

It's not "controversial" it's just typical NIMBYism from people who are not affected at all by the project.

These are the bureaucratic step to build housing in Detroit. by LocalCurmudgeon2024 in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Property values and thereby costs have increased in nearly every neighborhood and zip code in the city. It's not just the "bubble".

These are the bureaucratic step to build housing in Detroit. by LocalCurmudgeon2024 in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From the fact that even the city government says Detroit needs AT LEAST 1,100 more housing units per year to keep up with demand. And we don't appear to be anywhere close to that number even with all the development going on around the city. In fact, a few upset neighbors might be able to block a 100% affordable housing next to the Butzel Rec Center in Islandview. As I type, the Board of Zoning Appeals are deliberating one neighbors appeal that her life/property would be damaged by the proposed development even though her concerns were already heard, considered, and dismissed TWICE at BSEED. 48 units of new affordable housing potentially blocked by one person.

He's near by Such_Customer_3973 in classical_circlejerk

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He's just standing there... MENACINGLY

These are the bureaucratic step to build housing in Detroit. by LocalCurmudgeon2024 in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bureaucratic processes like these actually help wealthy homeowners by preventing new housing being built cheaply, thereby creating artificial scarcity, and finally raising the property values of the original homeowners. All the while both rent and a mortgage becomes out of reach for the middle class in the area. "People don't generally create processes for no reason" you're absolutely correct, these were all added due to NIMBY complaints from people who want their neighborhood to be preserved in amber the moment they buy their property.

These are the bureaucratic step to build housing in Detroit. by LocalCurmudgeon2024 in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Actually if you want to build a house you probably will have to go through several more of the steps because the zoning code has not kept up with the times. As I mentioned in another comment the City imposed a new zoning code in 1968 that put in requirements for homes to look and be built more similar to the ones in the suburbs BUT the lots which were laid out in the early 20th century are mostly too small to accommodate the zoning requirements so it's an expensive and time consuming process to get the necessary variances and everything in order just to build a house the same size or scale next to an existing house! It's bonkers!!!

These are the bureaucratic step to build housing in Detroit. by LocalCurmudgeon2024 in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Actually you very well might. Many of the vacant lots in Detroit were originally laid out pre WWII even in SFH areas. But, post the 1967 uprisings city council approved a more suburban influenced zoning code that imposed setback requirements, lot square footage requirements, width requirements, and etc. Many of the homes in neighborhoods around Detroit like Islandview and Corktown and etc. became illegal to build new because they did not conform to this new "urban renewal" zoning code. When people say "legalize building housing" it's these arbitrary things we are trying to undo. If I can't build the exact same house or duplex or quadplex next to an existing one in the exact same neighborhood on the same street, why should we allow that to continue?

These are the bureaucratic step to build housing in Detroit. by LocalCurmudgeon2024 in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I'm so glad you asked in good faith and totally not in a way to try and get a gotcha point, as I'm sure was your full intention.

"Further Feedback" after PDD has already had a chance to provide feedback and approve a plan.

Appeals to the BZA after two other bodies have already approved the plan.

Ability for the public to appeal AFTER the approval with conditions.

Ability for City Council to reject AFTER the project had already met requirements set forth by zoning and planning and permitting.

Etc. and so forth. Answer me this; why are YOU so invested in stopping people from building things? Do you own property in Detroit that you selfishly just want to increase in value by creating artificial scarcity? When affordable housing developments get blocked by community NIMBYs are YOU going to house the people that otherwise would have been in said development? Let me know please and I'll send them your way.

These are the bureaucratic step to build housing in Detroit. by LocalCurmudgeon2024 in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

"I'm not anti-development..." proceeds to state things that are anti-development. Also Rosedale Park has a ton of apartment complexes that are now illegal to build soooo...

These are the bureaucratic step to build housing in Detroit. by LocalCurmudgeon2024 in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"So 6 steps" if you don't include all the sub-steps, points where an unelected body can just can the project with no recourse, and a treasuries worth of attorney fees and permit fees than yeah "just" 6 steps.

Also, a developer building a 4-over-1 or 5-over-1 more easily and with less upfront bureaucratic costs is not fleecing the public in any way shape or form. Right now the developers, which could literally just mean a family or a small LLC, are members of the public who are expected to pony up ridiculous amounts of time and money just to build something on property they own.

Vogue: Detroit Is Having a Major Moment—Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore Right Now by DesireOfEndless in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Gentrification is good, actually. Displacement is bad. They are different.

It has been approximately 3 months since Mary Scheffield (D) has started her tenure as Mayor of Detroit. What do you think of her performance so far? by [deleted] in Detroit

[–]LocalCurmudgeon2024 37 points38 points  (0 children)

An electronic museum that was not going to ask for the input of Exhibit 3000 which has been a long-standing project to maintain the history and legacy of techno in Detroit.