Yimbys VS Nimbys – Change is coming

We’re posting something a little different this month. Rather than listening to any rants of mine (stand-by because one is coming) here is a millennials perspective on a sulking newspaper article and how the world looks to be changing.

Bella has been with us for around 18 months, she’s probably the first person you will see if you ever visit us. Have a read and please send in any feedback! We love it.

Change is coming!

A Christchurch woman has been told she needs to move her house to accommodate five new two-storey townhouses. A loose sound bite which has made for a fantastic headline. She is in absolute despair because her classic kiwi home considerably set back from the road, probably also with a beautiful private back yard, is being dwarfed and cramped by new higher density homes. It’s so cramped the contractors were regularly on her property doing work for next door, until she banned them.

A ‘classic’ kiwi home

While this new development has been a pain in the ass for this woman, planning-wise it is all compliant. The zoning allows for these town houses. Ms Mehlhopt claims that this development will devalue her home, cost her privacy, and ruin the street’s family orientated appeal. Classic claims from a text-book NIMBY. While her claims are partly true (her loss of privacy) the value of her property will not necessarily go down. As it is currently, value will go down. Change it into town houses that can home 15 more people than just herself and the value will go up. I’m sorry lady, higher density living (in the right zone) is the future.

Our national papers are littered with these stories. ‘Resident of 15 years is unhappy with changes in neighbourhood that directly inconveniences them but is fully compliant under the district plan’. And we will only see these more and more. NIMBYism tends to get all the headlines and attention. After all, they are relate-able complaints. Wholesome, small-scale, the local long term community member versus the cashed up capitalist developer. However, there is an up swell of support for the capitalist developer; new group of people impassioned by their inability to get on the property ladder.

Yes, In My Back Yard “the YIMBY”!

Originally gaining notoriety in the San Francisco Bay Area, the rise of YIMBYism has since gone worldwide. Where town meetings were previously only attended by home owners complaining about developments creating shade over their zucchini gardens, they are now met with opposition from members of the community who are fighting for development. These YIMBYs are typically millennials who have been shut out of the property market. Increasing the number of available dwellings resulting in lower housing prices is their motivation. The classic supply & demand argument.

San Francisco is one of the most expensive places in the world to rent, let alone purchase. It is clear that it is a place that people want to live, any many people already do. However, as millennials are set to become the largest generation in the workplace, thriving economies need to provide more housing options to ensure talent within this group are able to continue to work in these thriving areas. Surely, if you only have retired people living in an area eventually that area will cease to be a thriving, vibrant economic centre and become more of a retirement town – think Orewa.

Obviously San Francisco will always be a major and successful centre, much like Auckland. But there is no harm in helping it along by giving a little less consideration to zucchini gardens and more to the people who make our city great and their housing needs. If these people cannot afford to live in the city they will move to other places like Tauranga and Marsden Point, which in turn have the potential to become a new centres for economic success. We want the best possible people to be living and working and contributing to society! If zucchini gardens are creating more waves against development than getting these people contributing then we have gone mad!

The Future of Business

Supply and Demand

Given the increased ability for infill density housing under the Auckland Unitary Plan, these NIMBY articles are going to become more and more prevalent in our day-to-day discourse.  Long-term residents are going to continue to be mortified by the high density apartments and townhouses that now have the ability to spring up next to them. And yet, while it sucks for them, this is the future for successful urban centres. We simply need more homes for people who want to live and work and be successful in Auckland, and other urban centres. And now the biggest barrier to these dwellings has been removed under the AUP.

The more that supply and demand is balanced, the more affordable housing will become. Something that is very important for all people. The baby boomer generation are getting closer to retirement. We will also need excellent retirement and care facilities and various housing options for our ageing population. Gone are the days of entire towns made up of large sections with lovely garden paths out the washing line. Obviously there are always going to be other matters that need addressing such as infrastructure, transport, and immigration but having more people on the Yes, In My Back Yard team can be nothing but good.

Ultimately we are at the beginning of a huge shift in population requirements. It’s time to stop fighting higher density developments and embrace the good that it can and will bring. Good that won’t just benefit millennials but also the ageing population. Many of which will also need more affordable housing options! I am hopeful that with the rise in YIMBY-ism, the increased planning ability for dense developments and time, our housing stock will grow making Auckland a more accessible and successful city!

Words by Bella Jackman