What Worse Than A NIMBY? A Successful NIMBY | Planetizen

What Worse Than A NIMBY? A Successful NIMBY | Planetizen: "Nimbyism is gaining quite a following in Toronto -- leaving some detractors to worry that the movement is strangling all growth in the area.

'The message behind all the attention is that NIMBYism is dangerous. It reflects thoughtless, knee-jerk reactions that go against the common good. A NIMBYist group is like a cell that has grown too quickly and become a cancer, threatening the entire organism.

...'It does beg the question as to how a city is supposed to proceed with any agenda, either positive or negative, when communities have the ability to stop what's meant to happen,' says Mark Guslits, chief development officer for Toronto Community Housing and the former manager of the city's affordable housing file.

But what if the opposite is true? Could NIMBYism be good for our city?'"

An interesting article with lessons on how to deal with nimbyism. Raises interesting questions on whether nimbyism might be a form of emergent behaviour ultimately moving the City towards a better and more functional landscape, or whether nimbyism is a serious obstacle towards sustainable and healthy community planning.