The Dangerous Myth of Luxury Housing
New market-rate housing, improperly labeled ‘luxury’ can go a long way towards decreasing rents while affordable housing catches up
Few words are capable of inspiring strong oppositional responses when mentioned. On their own, words are usually anodyne, or broadly accepted to have good or bad connotations. While we may visualize something when we hear the words rose, book, or couch, there’s hardly much evocative polarity associated with them. Luxury, as is its wont, is an exception.
On one side of the aisle, there are brands, advertisers and aspirational escapists who view it as the ultimate title. On the other, it’s met with scorn, indignation, and a representation of the inequalities endemic to a society that orients itself around capitalism. Where the meaning of the word actually settles is entirely subjective. It should never, however, factor into how we shape policy or guide community development. And yet, that’s precisely what’s happened in areas of the country that most need new housing and investment into their communities.
Why Affordable Housing Isn’t The Answer (today)
It’s no secret that many American cities are suffering through crippling housing crises. As rents increase…
