National home builders make push for more development in NH | CloseUp
WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. HOUSING REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY AT THE STATE HOUSE. THIS LAST WEEK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOMEBUILDERS VISITED NEW HAMPSHIRE. IN A ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW. WE ASKED HIM ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST INTRACTABLE DILEMMAS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ISSUE THE NOT IN MY BACK YARD DYNAMIC, IN WHICH SOME TOWNS REJECT DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, THEIR RIGHT UNDER LOCAL CONTROL. BUT THAT FORCES OTHER COMMUNITIES TO SHOULDER MORE OF THE HOUSING SUPPLY BURDEN. YOU HAVE SOME TOWNS THAT JUST DON’T WANT THE DEVELOPMENT. DO YOU THINK THERE’S ANY WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN? SO THERE’S MORE HOUSING AND MORE COMMUNITIES, EVEN IF THEY MIGHT BE RESISTANT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL? I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS HAVE LAWMAKERS AND POLICYMAKERS HAVE COURAGE TO LOOK AT THOSE NIMBYS AND SAY, YOU HAVE YOURS. IT’S NOW TIME TO LET OTHER PEOPLE HAVE OURS. YOU KNOW, HERE IN THE GRANITE STATE, YOU HAVE KIDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF COLLEGE OR OR LEARNING A SKILLED TRADE. THEY DESERVE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY GREW UP IN. GRANDPARENTS DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME OR AN APARTMENT TO LIVE NEAR THEIR GRANDKIDS. AND SO THIS IDEA THAT WE’RE GOING TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT IS JUST UNTENABLE. LET’S TALK ABOUT HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO GROW SMARTER. AND THAT’S HOW YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM TOGETHER, NOT BY EXCLUSIONARY POLICIES. AT THE MOMENT AT THE STATE HOUSE, THERE IS NOT MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR PICKING THIS KIND OF FIGHT OVER LOCAL CONTROL. BUT LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING ON SEVERA
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National home builders make push for more development in NH | CloseUp
Jim Tobin with the National Association of Home Builders said, “Grandparents deserve to be able to afford a home or an apartment to live near their grandkids. This idea that we are going to keep people out is just untenable.”
Jim Tobin with the National Association of Home Builders said, “Grandparents deserve to be able to afford a home or an apartment to live near their grandkids. This idea that we are going to keep people out is just untenable.”
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