Source: Bloomberg

Date Published: 07.27.2025

Link: An Underrated Upside to YIMBY Ideas? Better-Looking Buildings

Law professors Chris Elmendorf and David Schleicher have recently argued that the pro-housing YIMBY movement should tap into broader support by connecting housing affordability to wider cultural driven development—combining diverse issues under the umbrella of “abundance.” This means bundling housing with quality of life issues like transit, energy, and healthcare to reflect a holistic vision of the needs and culture of urban life. Culture, particularly perceptions of building functions and aesthetics, plays a key role in shaping public support for housing density. While aesthetic concerns often serve as tools to block development, reforms to building design codes can empower cities to build more affordable, diverse, and attractive housing—reframing design as solutions rather than barriers.