What is YIMBY?

You’ve heard the term, “NIMBY.” The “not in my backyard” theme involves a
group of residents working to prevent more development in their community.
With the tight housing market and rising home prices, millennial buyers are
complaining that they can’t afford to live where they work and play – and they
want solutions.
The need for more, and affordable, housing is not a new concern. Dating back to
the early 2000’s, suburban and urban communities have recognized that they are
unable to attract younger home buyers due to the lack of housing options.
Strategies must balance the need for more affordable housing, with the impact on
traffic, services, schools, and other community amenities.
Some innovative community councils are using this crisis as an opportunity to
revitalize urban areas filled with empty buildings or abandoned warehouse
districts. Incorporating expanded public transportation and creating mixed-use
zones which offer all the lifestyle needs in proximity aids in the “neighborhood
building” goal, providing greater freedom to live where they work.
Other strategies include expanded zoning for smaller footprint housing, ADU
(Additional Dwelling Units) to properties, and providing locations for tiny houses
and other non-traditional housing.
There is a great need for more and more affordable housing. Communities are
grappling with ways to add units without straining resources. The YIMBY
movement is here to stay as more potential homebuyers are locked out of the
current housing market due to either unaffordability or unavailability.

What is YIMBY?