Sunnyside Megaprojects Distract From Reform

Large, subsidized urban megaprojects (e.g., Sunnyside Yard proposals) can function as political spectacles that absorb attention, funding, and regulatory effort while leaving the underlying zoning and permitting barriers to housing supply unchanged. As a result, they may produce limited affordable housing relative to their cost and slow more scalable reforms. — Frames a recurring policy problem — that visible flagship projects can crowd out practical housing reforms — which affects how cities prioritize budgets and regulatory change for affordability.