The rate of NYC housebuilding was fastest in the 1950s when its rent control laws were strongest and rent was most affordable. Rent control apparently doesnt inhibit construction significantly.
I suspect it inhibits NIMBYism by keeping asset values down. Land is more scarce than construction materials and labor.
High rents->high asset values->freaking out about your riculous mortgage->freakimg about additional supply driving down your property price->turning up to town planning meeting to declare a laundrette "historic".
Were houses rent controlled in addition to multifamily residential? I'd expect developers to focus on houses when multifamily residential apartment buildings were under rent control. Is that the point you were trying to make?
It's good to point out a lot of nimbyism is defensive. As much as we like to demonize it, people are legitimately worried about their life savings investment getting cut in half if suddenly tons of new places were built
We should stop thinking of houses as an investment first and foremost. Their purpose is to be a dwelling for humans, not to park cash. When you look at it from that perspective, the house that one owns and lives in doesn't become any worse as a dwelling regardless of the state of the market. Those owned as investment, yeah, their owners should be legitimately worried - but they are also a big part of the problem, so let them worry.
I suspect it inhibits NIMBYism by keeping asset values down. Land is more scarce than construction materials and labor.
High rents->high asset values->freaking out about your riculous mortgage->freakimg about additional supply driving down your property price->turning up to town planning meeting to declare a laundrette "historic".