Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

mmirate t1_j0ny97m wrote

If you live in Portsmouth because you work in Portsmouth, then you're pouring money down the drain.
This is very simple economics and I am exasperated that you people refuse to grasp it.

To wit:

The best place to put most types of businesses that use human labor to manufacture things is near as many prospective employees as possible; i.e. in a centralized location. The best place to put a business that provides sales and/or service to visiting customers, is near as many prospective customers as possible; i.e. in a centralized high-density location.

Therefore, centralized high-density locations (i.e. cities and large towns) are extremely valuable for retail, industrial and other commercial uses.

The status quo is that zoning, parking minimums and other such local corruption, all but prohibit building any more apartments atop (e.g.) retail buildings. Therefore using any land in a centralized high-density location for residential purpose, excludes that land from extremely valuable retail or industrial use for which developers will likely pay very handsomely. The only reason the owner of such land would not want to sell to said developers, is if she can find some way to convince some residents to rent from her at an exorbitant price.

I imagine there are some people willing to pay that price; otherwise Portsmouth's population would be zero.

For the rest of us who want to earn a profit from life, the best place to put our residence is in a location which is as decentralized and low-density as possible, within a certain commute distance of one or more large towns whose employers can compete for our services.

(And yes, automobiles are the only way to extend commute distance such that multiple large towns are reachable from the same corner of bumfsck nowhere. Deal with it.)

−17

bananacherrypeanuts t1_j0nzu1a wrote

this is a really patronizing response. they’re not asking why portsmouth is expensive, they’re asking where people who work in portsmouth actually live specifically because portsmouth is expensive. if you know what the “low density locations” are, the smaller towns surrounding the area, then say so. if not, then this isn’t helpful at all.

25

mmirate t1_j0o5vfw wrote

If somebody can't be bothered to say what he actually means (let alone mean what he says) then I can't be bothered to not patronize and condescend him. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

−28

bananacherrypeanuts t1_j0oi5sz wrote

my guy it literally says “Where do most of the people in Portsmouth live?” like that’s in the post

14

mmirate t1_j0ph6ys wrote

It says "Do the people who work in Portsmouth live in Portsmouth?".

−6

Worried_Routine_5944 t1_j0nzvpr wrote

You’ve got some good points, but good lord no one will want to read them after that preamble.

23

mmirate t1_j0o5yn0 wrote

If your ego's too big to fit through the garage door, then that's your problem, not mine.

−21

Ok-Glass7272 t1_j0pbxsa wrote

>Deal with it.

As far as I can tell, Portsmouth is trying to deal with it. The mayor is a staunch affordable housing proponent and, while politicians can only encourage and support legislation that encourages such change, he certainly seems to focus efforts on the problem. Portsmouth did recently open the Ruth Lewin Griffin workforce housing project, which boasts 64 below market rental units in the downtown and created a Housing Committee whose edict is to address the lack of affordable housing in the community. Further, town staff and board members are encouraging the creation of ADUs, which could have a positive effect on affordability in the city.

Just sayin'.

7

Maldonian t1_j0vrpi1 wrote

True affordable housing, or taxpayer subsidized housing? Sometimes subsidized housing is disguised with euphemisms.

0

5nd t1_j0o0t0v wrote

Great response.

−6