For example in New York City go take a walk in the streets next to hundred-year-old skyscrapers in downtown. It’s miserable to me. Now go walk alongside midcentury skyscrapers in midtown. It’s much better. The difference is entirely because of shadows cast by the skyscrapers. The visceral reaction from shadows is so strong to me that I am wholeheartedly supporting restrictions on casting shadows.
Now on two-acre lots. That’s not something I care about. Even 0.1 acres of land is too much maintenance for me. But it will be non-negotiable for someone else.
The government should not criminalize development that would make housing more affordable over your preference on shadows!
It's a negative externality, yes, but it's a trivial one next to the upside of cheaper housing for more people!
But if the president says 'we're gonna take away mayors powers to restrict housebuilding', you won't be pissed yet.... And when a builder comes along to build later it'll be too late.
