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What Drives NIMBYs?
Many developers are familiar with pushback when it comes to building in certain neighborhoods. Dubbed “NIMBYs,” an acronym for “Not in My Back Yard,” those arguing against new developments, cite increased traffic, lower property values and changes to a neighborhood’s character as reasons for making sure that a new apartment complex isn’t built.
But, according to a recent study conducted by UCLA, the NIMBY pushback is more focused on developer profit, as opposed to density increase. Researchers Paavo Monkkonen and Michael Manville, in surveying 1,300 Los Angeles county residents, concluded that, some forms of NIMBYism are less about “fear of their own losses,” and more about “resentment of others’ gains.”
Adding to the difficulty is that perception of developers as money grubbers tends to be higher in supply constrained, pricier and tightly-regulated housing markets. “Our system of land use regulations and permitting process—the complexity of it—has selected for people that can navigate that,” Monkkonen said “They tend to be good at bending the rules and breaking the rules, or wealthy. We’ve created a system that selects for people who are more cutthroat.”
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- ◦Development
