I never see any politician run on reforming planning and building departments. Having done a permitted remodel in one of the top cities on that list, I can attest to some of those building departments being a bureaucratic shit show that constantly starts and stops construction.
Some of those construction times are long because construction teams don’t wait around when the building and planning departments block work. They disband, go to another project, and they don’t come back and spin back up at a drop of a hat.
Some people in planning offices are amazing and are there to help you solve problems, stick to the intent of regulations, and keep a project moving. Other people look for petty things and make the perfect the enemy of the good.
What’s the takeaway from this chart? The time it takes to build different kinds of housing is longer or shorter regardless of the type in various cities?
My takeaway… the most expansive markets, and the places with the worst housing shortages, are (surprise surprise) also the cities that have been the hardest to build in.
I see.
Average home price is not provided on the chart.
The goal of the study was simply to provide visibility into construction and permitting timelines across the US. There is no standardized federal report, so no one really knows what it’s like to build in 1 one city vs another.
Ideally, once people can see how they’re performing comparatively, then we can dig into what makes a region faster or slower.
This study just lays the groundwork for further inquiry. You can’t diagnose a patient if you don’t have them hooked up to the diagnostic equipment.
(And that said, I’m totally not shocked to see these cities ranking where they are. The worst housing markets are at the top of that list)
This explains why everything is becoming apartment blocks with little tiny apartments in Grand Rapids. 😅
