NationStates

Setup

[Capital], one of the fastest growing metropolitan regions in [Nation], is now facing a massive shortage of housing. Unfortunately, the city also has some of the nation’s strictest zoning laws, making the construction of new high-density housing virtually impossible. Now, an unusual medley of concerned citizens, opportunistic businessmen, and bureaucrats with nothing better to do have barged into your office in hopes of weighing in on the growing crisis.

Option I

“The solution is simple,” declares Bradley B. Bradfordson, a bespeckled billionaire real-estate developer, before promptly adjusting his gold bow tie. “[Capital]’s antiquated zoning laws must be rolled back. As soon as that occurs, plenty of enterprising fellows such as myself will happily come in and erect as many high-rises as you want. Everyone’s happy!”

Planes physically can’t fly high enough to clear the tops of [Capital’s] tallest buildings

Option II

“Not everyone is happy!” shouts exasperated full time watercolor artist and part time barista, [woman]. “Only the wealthy will be able to afford rent in these proposed mega-apartment complexes. What about the rest of us? I’m living with five roommates as is! The only way out of this crisis is for the state to construct low-rent apartment blocks on the newly zoned land.”

A concrete box with a door is considered the height of architectural achievement in [Nation]

Option III

“Exc-u-se me” retorts [woman], a grandmother of ten and beloved resident of [national animal] Row, one of [Capital]’s residential neighborhoods. “I don’t want any new high-rises coming up in my part of town. I’ve lived in my house for 50 years and I’m not about to have it bought out from under me by some greedy land-developer or greasy politician. Those zoning laws were there for a good reason, too, they keep communities like mine together.”

The monthly rent for a [Capital] apartment frequently exceeds the GDP of several small countries

I know the title is a bit uninspired, but I'd love to hear any feedback you all might have on the issue.

Zoning laws are generally more of an issue for the local government than @@leader@@, as your issue hints at. You could deal with the consequences of the zoning laws, for example, but I think directly altering them is a bit too small-scale for @@leader@@.

We don't have an issue on overpopulation/population density that I spotted (well, except for #256, but that's an easter egg so it doesn't really count), so you can probably stick with this premise. You'll just need to drag in more cities and focus it more on population and crowding than just "how to zone @@capital@@", so it's more of a national issue than a local one.

SherpDaWerp wrote:Zoning laws are generally more of an issue for the local government than @@leader@@, as your issue hints at. You could deal with the consequences of the zoning laws, for example, but I think directly altering them is a bit too small-scale for @@leader@@.

We don't have an issue on overpopulation/population density that I spotted (well, except for #256, but that's an easter egg so it doesn't really count), so you can probably stick with this premise. You'll just need to drag in more cities and focus it more on population and crowding than just "how to zone @@capital@@", so it's more of a national issue than a local one.

There's actually a few already on the topic;
#68 deals with a housing crisis and overcrowding in cities
#342 is about running out of land for your expanding population
#623 covers housing scarcity among younger populations
#735 is about your capital specifically running out of housing space and also includes options about building either very tall or under the ground
#1193 covers your nation running out of farmland as it coverts the land into housing

I don't believe this list is all inclusive either, just ones I recall seeing previously.

Huh, I couldn't find "density" at all. I'm losing my touch

In that case... maybe try and find a new premise.

SherpDaWerp wrote:Huh, I couldn't find "density" at all. I'm losing my touch

In that case... maybe try and find a new premise.

I don’t think any of them specifically use the word density which could be why.

Could this be similar to San Francisco, a city with strict zoning laws that can't build more high-density housing? Certainly gives off those vibes.

Umbratellus wrote:

SherpDaWerp wrote:Zoning laws are generally more of an issue for the local government than @@leader@@, as your issue hints at. You could deal with the consequences of the zoning laws, for example, but I think directly altering them is a bit too small-scale for @@leader@@.

We don't have an issue on overpopulation/population density that I spotted (well, except for #256, but that's an easter egg so it doesn't really count), so you can probably stick with this premise. You'll just need to drag in more cities and focus it more on population and crowding than just "how to zone @@capital@@", so it's more of a national issue than a local one.

There's actually a few already on the topic;
#68 deals with a housing crisis and overcrowding in cities
#342 is about running out of land for your expanding population
#623 covers housing scarcity among younger populations
#735 is about your capital specifically running out of housing space and also includes options about building either very tall or under the ground
#1193 covers your nation running out of farmland as it coverts the land into housing

I don't believe this list is all inclusive either, just ones I recall seeing previously.

As I see it, there is definitely some overlap with #68 and, to a lesser extent, #735, but neither are exact duplicates of my drafted issue. Just as #735 focused in on a niche issue (height restrictions) in the broader context of urban housing shortages, I had hoped that my drafted issue would be unique enough in focus (zoning, high-density v low-density) so as to have a similarly distinct identity. Do you all believe that it does possess a unique enough premise to be viable, or is the issue simply too similar to #68?

Outer Sparta wrote:Could this be similar to San Francisco, a city with strict zoning laws that can't build more high-density housing? Certainly gives off those vibes.

Although zoning regulations are more local, you could also make a government initiative to spark change by incentivizing other forms of urban development (such as if a country with huge amounts of sprawl decided to promote mixed-use zoning). I would make you issue revolve around that since it seems to be addressed as a shortage of housing problem.

You have a good framework so far, just make sure to add in more meat to your options. My only concern is that it might not totally be in the jurisdiction of the leader or be a big issue (especially if it's just located in the nation's capital), but at least you have something to work with and improve.

Speaking of zoning, perhaps another solution is being overlooked here... That is, building and expanding underground instead to bypass such laws, though I could imagine the flavor text for such an option may be along the lines of-

@@NATION@@ has a sprawling underground scene in the subway tunnels.

Or perhaps something a little more humorous like-

The residents of @@CAPITAL@@ tend to live in the basement of their mother's basement.

Alas, it also opens up the other options, if such a choice is inferred as a likely solution, being the "odd one out"... Like how a few issues tend to have a rather drastic or odd option leaning into religion, change of government, or a major shift in policy (be it AI planning, no prisons, WMDs/No WMDs, climate treaty...) though this option won't have the same weight to it, beyond some odd effects that are down to the ones running the coding and stat changes in the background (which, of course, is mildly irrelevant beyond MAJOR changes like policy changes)