From one of the commentator:
:
>>>There is nothing at all wrong with building high end housing. There is something very disturbing though in building only high end housing. It is an example of greed being out of balance with the needs of a healthy city. All that high dollar living space will bring short term gains to be sure, but also long term problems<<<<

Overall, I like the direction Tempe is headed especially regarding the lightrail construction and support for bus transport. However, they have to build more affordable large scale construction other than luxury housing. The price of a $300,000 one bedroom condo is close to New York City prices, not a small city in southwest. The days when easy credit maybe over for many years and we may see those prices dropping to $240 - 260K but this is still too high.

In my neck of the woods, large scale luxury housing is the only type that's being constructed. To say it's disturbing is an understatement. New Urbanism is not about building condo's for high paid doctors and lawyers but this is exactly what's happening. Unless the government is involved, private developers cannot make a large enough profit building affordable housing.

I must say, when affordable housing is offered, you have to "win" the unit in a lottery. Three years later, those "affordable" units are on the market at full retail price. The whole situation is insane!

When you think about it, are single family homes going for $125K? Of couse not. Where are the poor and lower middle class supposed to live? My neighborhood would not build affordable housing projects until the NAACP sued the city to construct them. Maybe that's what Tempe needs but don't hold your breath.

I still have hope in New Urbanism will find it's way. There's no way I can afford a $400K condo downtown or a similar priced home in the burbs.