While posting about housing in my post a couple days ago Might the Squamish nation pollute and deplete the most per capita in the world?, as well as just living in New York City, I came across people promoting YIMBYism. If you didn’t know, YIMBY contrasts with NIMBY, which came first.
NIMBY means “not in my back yard” and is a label for people who oppose construction near them. I only see it applied with negative connotation.
YIMBY means “yes in my back yard” and is a label for people who promote construction near them. Here’s the Wikipedia page for it. YIMBY people promote themselves as promoters of progress, solvers of the so-called housing crisis.
Decades ago, when the city and nation considered what to put in place of the twin towers felled on September 11, I suggested a park. I don’t remember anyone responding positively to the idea. I only shared it with friends, not officials, but people seemed to take for granted that it couldn’t work.
I think if today’s culture existed when Central Park was being planned, it would not have happened. Manhattan would maybe have had more little parks, but nothing like what we now have. I think many people today would be happy to allow a building or two in Central Park. Since it’s like everyone in Manhattan’s back yard, I suspect YIMBY people would support building housing in Central Park. They don’t seem to like nature.
A recent study of a big project in Soho that promised plenty of affordable housing revealed those promises empty, simply marketing. The project built plenty of housing, all luxury. They reneged on the affordable stuff, but no YIMBY people complained. Simply building more housing doesn’t mean housing will become more affordable.
I’m very YIMBY about more parks, nature, playgrounds, farmers markets (which would lower the cost of fresh produce as well as keep money in communities), and car-free streets.
Do YIMBY people say yes in their back yards about sanitation plants, highways, prisons, coal-fired power plants, homeless shelters, and other parts of modern life? I only see them promoting housing and commercial stores, never nature. I think they see nature as anti-human, or anti-market.
I only see arguments from YIMBY people that would have stopped Central Park from being built.
That’s an interesting take. At least where I live, the YIMBY are pro public parks. The same people who are pro infill housing work to preserve open space – including raising money to buy existing space to convert it to public use and protect it from new luxury housing. Also generally pro homeless shelter.