Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
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Notes -
As I said down-thread I'm not a YIMBY.
The closest I've come is not objecting when a neighbor wanted to build a garage that required a zoning waiver because it was 10% bigger than allowed. I didn't object because their property is otherwise adequately sized, I have to live next to him, it doesn't obstruct my view, and it was so he could store his boat. I think it's more attractive than keeping the boat on the drive, and I wouldn't mind being invited out on the boat. If he had wanted to up-zone his lot from R-1 to R-5 you bet I would have broken out all the NIMBY tropes.
Whether a particular policy proposal from a self-identified YIMBY makes sense probably depends on the YIMBY and the proposal.
For the laundromat example, I do think there exists some system where the zoning and permitting requirements do not have to be so onerous. This would still be a small or marginal change to the total cost, but not zero. For example, if the opportunity cost for the zoning of that building was reduced by $3MM, there were 40 residential units built, each with a value of $1MM. That is a 7.5% cost savings. $1MM is not exactly affordable, but 7.5% is 7.5%.
I think it's also clear that the North America, specifically the US, specifically high cost of living US also has other problems. General cost disease being a big one. I don't think just deciding to build will fully solve this. The Golden Gate Bridge cost $630MM in 2024 dollars to build in 1933. The Golden Gate Bridge suicide net cost $400MM in 2023. Currently San Francisco has density of something like Copenhagen. Clearly they can "afford" to do more density as Singapore has much higher density and much lower GDP Per capita. Do I think they can just build their way to Singaporean quality of life? No. Do I think there is some fundamental limit that would cause a public services collapse above current density? Also no. Do I think public services could collapse if people don't get their act together? Yes.
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