Objections and Resistance

Project: SRO was started because I spent years homeless. I think I snagged the project name while still homeless and not entirely sure where I would go with it.

And I have reason to believe that if the US built enough small residential units in walkable neighborhoods where it's possible to rent SOME of those units for around $500 to $600 for just the apartment, assuming you do not have a car so do not need to pay for a parking space, this model can get some homeless folks off the street and prevent some retirees and the like from landing in the street.

But that framing is not likely to be a good means to sell the project. If you run into objections and resistance, you will need a stronger argument than that.

First, realize that a lot of small town politics is personal and irrational. The best antidote to that is don't make it personal and emotional on your part. That way lies feuds.

An approving body exists for a reason. That reason is to protect the interests of the community. You need to convince them this is in the best interest of the community.

Some potential arguments you may be able to use:
  • If it's in a blighted, historic area: "This was designed to solve the conflict between redeveloping a blighted historic downtown and parking minimums. Otherwise, you have to tear down half the buildings to develop the other half and then you no longer have a dense, walkable downtown core."
  • "Studies show that walkable mixed use neighborhoods provide local merchants with higher profit levels."
  • "The younger generation doesn't like cars and a relatively high percentage of them won't get driver's licenses. This model will attract well-paid professionals with remote jobs who do NOT want to have to drive and will go ELSEWHERE if they can't find what they need HERE."
You win approval not by repeating what YOUR goals and ambitions are and insisting they should care about the same things you do but by figuring out how to answer their question "What's in it for ME?" And that means telling them "What's in it for THIS town/neighborhood?"