Recent comments in /f/boston

crazy_eric t1_j9r15zn wrote

Reply to The MBTA and Green Line are mentioned: We Finally Know Why It Costs So Damn Much to Build New Subways in America by timboot

A big part of the reason for the insane costs of our subways is every single station has to be uniquely designed. They cost hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. Imagine if we figure out a way to use just one design at every single station with just minor modifications, how much cheaper it would get?

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Yakb0 OP t1_j9qzp1z wrote

Reply to comment by RhaenyrasUncle in Has anyone bought a car from an out of state dealer and registered it in MA? How long did it take to get your new plates? by Yakb0

I'm referring to the time between purchasing the vehicle, and the dealer receiving the new plates. There's always going to be a few days delay in mailing the paperwork to the RMV. I'm wondering how long it takes them to process the paperwork and put the new plates in the mail.

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Anustart15 t1_j9qzlre wrote

Reply to comment by Proof-Variation7005 in What would it take to mitigate the downside of rent control, specifically the skimping on maintenance? by letoatreides_

No apartment within 2 hours of Boston is $1000. Let's go with a realistic low number and say it's a $2000 a month apartment. If they managed to price it right when they first start renting it out, it's not going to be jumping up more than $200 in a year. If they want to renovate there's only so much they can do in a single year with a tenant actively living in there that will justify more than $200 increase a year also.

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_j9qvvn7 wrote

Reply to comment by Anustart15 in What would it take to mitigate the downside of rent control, specifically the skimping on maintenance? by letoatreides_

If any apartment is $1000 and they can only go up to $1100 with the same tenant but they know they could charge $1500 to a new tenant, the landlord is just going to not renew the lease and list at the new price. Even with the broker fees, paying for cleanup, and losing between 2-4 weeks worth of rent each year, it's still worth it financially as long as the market will bear a higher price.

The answer is to fix the market first. Anything that isn't doing that is re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_j9qvfc9 wrote

Reply to comment by NoMoLerking in What would it take to mitigate the downside of rent control, specifically the skimping on maintenance? by letoatreides_

And it's gotta be new housing, not just buying shit that's there. If the city took over responsibility for a a thousand units of housing, that'd be great for people living in those units but it wouldn't do shit for anyone else. If anything, it'd make it worse because supply wouldn't turn over.

This is still, at its core, a supply and demand problem. Demand has steadily outpaced supply for decades in every market experiencing these issues. Any solution that isn't going to address the lack of supply is not a solution.

Rent stabilization and control are the dressing, nice to have, but ultimately fucking useless without having a salad (more housing)

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MaddyKet t1_j9qrlkf wrote

Reply to comment by shameonyounancydrew in Mass. GOP in disarray: Party may have $600,000 in debts, misreported hundreds of thousands in spending, memo says - The Boston Globe by TouchDownBurrito

Yeah, I agree. I voted for Baker, but once he was done it’s Democrat all the way. I wouldn’t even vote for Baker for Congress because no way I’m sending another Republican to Washington, even if he was a moderate here.

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