No Balconies or Luxury Toilets: How This City Fought Soaring Rents and Lost

How Berlin's Bid to Boost Affordable Housing Backfired - WSJ  The Wall Street Journal

No Balconies or Luxury Toilets: How This City Fought Soaring Rents and Lost




German Capital’s Innovative Approaches to Affordable Housing

Nov. 14, 2023 7:00 am ET

  1. The German capital, Berlin, has become a testing ground for innovative solutions to the global crisis of affordable housing.
  2. Strict anti-gentrification rules in certain neighborhoods have led to the rejection of luxury renovations like walk-in showers, balconies, and cement tiles.
  3. Airbnb is heavily regulated, and rental caps have resulted in rent reductions by thousands of landlords.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Berlin’s experiments in affordable housing align with this goal by addressing the housing crisis faced by city dwellers worldwide.
  • Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities – The strict regulations on gentrification and rental caps aim to reduce inequalities in access to affordable housing.

Copyright © 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article discusses the issue of affordable housing in Berlin, which is directly related to SDG 11. This goal aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
  • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.

The article highlights the efforts in Berlin to tackle the crisis of affordable housing, which aligns with Target 11.1. Additionally, the strict anti-gentrification rules and rental caps mentioned in the article reflect the city’s aim to achieve inclusive and sustainable urbanization, corresponding to Target 11.3.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.
  • Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.

The article does not explicitly mention these indicators, but it implies progress towards Target 11.1 through the mention of affordable housing initiatives. The indicator 11.1.1 can be used to measure the proportion of urban population living in inadequate housing. Additionally, the article’s reference to anti-gentrification rules and rental caps suggests efforts towards achieving Target 11.3, which can be measured using indicator 11.3.1, the ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: wsj.com

 

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.