New Startup Working on Software to Help Government Fix Housing Problems • Hacker News Board

Re: New Startup Working on Software to Help Government Fix Housing Problems

#21

Post by DoreenMichele » Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 10:25 AM UTC

Not a bad idea. There are many instances where government policy has had the exact opposite of the stated intended effect. One example: trying to preserve the real character of an area by setting a large minimum lot size. The result: places like Apple Valley, with giant houses set in the middle of huge yards. It becomes an enclave of the rich and famous. In fact, Apple Valley is reasonably popular with well heeled actors and movie biz people because it is about 2 hours from LA/Hollywood.

If these folks can deliver on actual solutions for this problem space, more power to them.

Re: New Startup Working on Software to Help Government Fix Housing Problems

#22

Post by DoreenMichele » Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 10:29 AM UTC

simonebrunozzi wrote: post #15

Our startup, Fabrica.city, is trying to solve housing problems by focusing on the financial side of it, and "attacking" the issue of how to handle titles digitally (and therefore, save costs, etc.). It's early in our journey, but I hope that we'll be able to show some real progress soon. Wish us luck :)

Finance is a huge part of the problem, especially insofar as it currently constrains what kind of housing can be built. Last I checked, co-housing projects in the US were typically self financed because there were no loan products available for them. So what is a mixed income development offering affordable housing and high quality of life in most countries becomes housing for mostly rich people desiring a certain lifestyle in the US because it can't get financing here.

Best of luck.

Re: New Startup Working on Software to Help Government Fix Housing Problems

#23

Post by DreaminDani » Tue, Jan 30, 2018, 3:31 PM UTC

caresource_ta wrote: post #13

This doesn't seem like the case but Cathy O'Neil (the author of Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy) raises the point that we often see algorithms implemented in non-traditional ways when society faces tough questions. It makes me really hesitant about using algorithms as silver bullets to solve hard problems in society.

Relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1831/

Re: New Startup Working on Software to Help Government Fix Housing Problems

#24

Post by simonebrunozzi » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 1:14 AM UTC

DoreenMichele wrote: post #22

simonebrunozzi wrote: post #15

Our startup, Fabrica.city, is trying to solve housing problems by focusing on the financial side of it, and "attacking" the issue of how to handle titles digitally (and therefore, save costs, etc.). It's early in our journey, but I hope that we'll be able to show some real progress soon. Wish us luck :)

Finance is a huge part of the problem, especially insofar as it currently constrains what kind of housing can be built. Last I checked, co-housing projects in the US were typically self financed because there were no loan products available for them. So what is a mixed income development offering affordable housing and high quality of life in most countries becomes housing for mostly rich people desiring a certain li…

Thanks!

Re: New Startup Working on Software to Help Government Fix Housing Problems

#25

Post by yonran » Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 6:54 AM UTC

electricslpnsld wrote: post #14

rco8786 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ignoring the fact that undeveloped land in PA is going for about $3mm an acre, What you’re talking about is commonly known as a subdivision. You need to account for roads, utilities, zoning, etc. im also fairly certain you would run into nimby problems even just by trying to subdivide and sell individual lots. You would also have no way (that I know of) of only selling to people like teachers, firefighters, etc becau…

> You would also have no way (that I know of) of only selling to people like teachers, firefighters, etc because of fair housing laws. There’s may be an exception for military. Isn't the San Francisco school district doing precisely this for teachers? I also recall reading that Stanford was securing housing nearby and 'selling' to faculty members by granting them loans with super generous mortgage payments, with the…

From talking to SF Planning Department, my understanding is that a school district can own housing and use it for employee housing, but another entity (such as the Mayor’s Office of Housing) can’t rent only to a specific profession.