I occasionally think about how the costs of housing have gotten so high and so quickly. My younger brother bought a condo, because the rent at his former apartment would've been as high as the monthly payments for the housing he now owns outright. As such, I do think some questions should be addressed when it comes to the potential construction of new housing.

That said, I don't think as much weight should be given to the concerns of homeowners who simply want to keep the value of their assets high, at the very literal cost of everyone else. Indeed, I cannot help but wonder if it could be a net benefit to the state economy to at least build more housing insofar that the rate of increased prices is reeled in and closer to stabilization. That way, more people will be able to afford housing, and then contribute to the state economy by both buying goods from Connecticut businesses, as well as working for them. It could even be experimented with on a county-by-county, or even town-by-town basis.

However, I'm also a massive fan of CT's natural landscape. I'd go as far as to say it's one of our main appeals as a state. So I'd say, housing should be built on already-developed land whenever possible.

Max Ian Engel

East Lyme