What happens to affordable homes

The Economic Facts of Life

Here are two economic facts of life that are often ignored these days:  

1. Existing homes are less expensive than new construction. 
2. You can't build an existing home. 

Every time another affordable home gets torn down, the income disparity of the  neighborhood widens.  Politicians and office-seekers, administrators and planning staff,
 developers and  development directors, and the chamber of commerce, opine about older

people needing to downsize or "age in place," and young people wanting to move into thecity but need affordable places to live, always talk about the need for NEW development to fulfill those needs.  Read numbers 1 and 2 above and see if this makes any sense, and then ask yourself why presumably smart people say such dumb things. Have you got it yet?   

Have you heard about the 5-story, 56-unit micro-apartments built between 2 houses on a

single 50'x100' lot in a residential neighborhood in Portland?  "Homeowners want city leaders at least to feign interest in their concerns when merrily approving supersized developments that cast shadows – both financial and literal -- over nearby homes."  The Oregonian.


How about the 100'x100' lot reduced to 4 skinny lots just 25' wide in a neighborhood of 50' wide residential home properties.  What will happen to the 2 homes nearby?



In every neighborhood, apartments and commercial buildings are being built that are too big and are disruptive to the locals.  The come without any parking, or far fewer parking spaces than needed.  The number of new residents destroy what made their quiet neighborhoods and their cities special. The locals are fist-shaking mad and can you blame them?  Lowering the quality of life in a city is not "progress."

If there are still adherents to the sustainable-density cause, it's because the movement hasn't come to their neighborhood - yet.  And if they have enough money, it never will.  

If you want to have any influence on Lake Oswego's last, best chance at csaving our city from Metro's fate, it starts with the development codes.  You must speak up now!  Along with others, the Clear and Objective Housing Standards as written, will make things worse than thy are now.  Got involved, and stay involved.  

It's our city after all!