Definitely- and I think we’ve gotten a lot better with actually attractive mixed used developments.

I want to generalize and say cities and towns just can’t get out of their own way to encourage this kind of development but honestly I think right now they’re having enough trouble just staying staffed and holding it together after COVID. They simply can’t keep up with the amount of development underway AND rewrite all of their code while handling the staffing shortages a lot of them have been seeing. I don’t know what the solution is here other than encouraging people to get on their local boards if they want to see this kind of change.

God so man reasons. It’s becoming incredibly difficult and expensive to develop for so many reasons.

For one, all the “good” land is gone in this area. What’s available (and relatively affordable) usually has environmental issues ranging from old storage tanks to wetlands on the property.

Additionally, it really feels like a lot of towns see these industries as money makers - they’re going to add a ton of tax money into the town and attract earners who will then also add to the towns coffers. Housing simply doesn’t generate as much revenue. It can also put a bigger strain on a towns infrastructure and resources- infrastructure that’s already often already being pushed past its limits (not just pipes but school systems and medical care).

Add in NIMBYs with nothing better to do who will show up to every single hearing to demonize apartment buildings or “affordable” housing and a lot of people just don’t want to touch it.

I think we’re going to see the government having to step in with incentives to make it worth their while before housing development picks back up.