I’ve been busy enough lately that I missed my usual 6:30 post. So I’m going to cheat a bit. A year ago I wrote a post at Forbes that I think is just as relevant today as it was then. Too many rules, regulation, and process means more expensive housing. That’s why mandatory inclusionary zoning won’t work, no matter how much we dress it up. And rules hurt non-profits too.

It isn’t surprising to hear these concerns from for-profit developers. For years, builders of market rate housing have complained that too much process, too many rules, and too many parking spaces drive up costs and therefore, rents. But it turns out that both non-profit and for-profit projects are made more expensive by these too much process and too many rules.

Local policy makers and activists want it both ways; punitive measures against greedy capitalists and affordable housing. You can’t have both.