Buying a home is one of the largest investments American families make. With such big investment, it makes sense that homeowners want to be actively engaged in the outcomes of their neighborhoods. It’s something we should strive for -- we want people to be invested in their communities.
However, in a recent New York Times article, Emily Badger describes a delicate balance between community ownership and the challenges of building new or different types of housing in an established neighborhood.
According to the article, “over the decades, homeowners have expanded their claim on the world beyond their lot lines. This means they look out for schools and streets in ways that are vital to American communities. But increasingly it also means the senior affordable housing, the high-rises and the tiny homes — also arguably vital to the larger community — are never built.”