A ChatGPT stereotypical NIMBY letter & why I won't use it at a Public Hearing in West Van this Monday

An artist's illustration of a proposed rental development comprising small studio suites

Brandon Donnelly is a Toronto-based architectural graduate now active in the development industry. Every morning, yes, every morning around 6 am, he writes a blogpost about various matters, but usually related to real estate or design. He's an excellent writer and based on his posts, he strikes me as a very charming and intelligent guy. https://brandondonnelly.com/

Today he posted something truly fascinating. It's a ChatGPT AI computer generated generic letter opposing a new housing development in a neighbourhood. 

It particularly struck home (if you'll pardon the pun) since this Monday evening March 6, provided I don't have to attend to an important family matter, I intend to speak at a Public Hearing in West Vancouver in support of a new rental housing project near Taylor Way and Marine Drive...yes, one of the most congested intersections in the Lower Mainland. You can read about the development proposal in this North Shore News article. https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/all-rental-apartment-proposal-in-west-vancouver-going-to-public-hearing-6442793.

A slide from a presentation to architects and others on the appropriateness of well-designed smaller suites. The illustration is from a UK publication on housing.

At the Public Hearing, I will be sharing with the mayor and councillors my opinion about smaller suites, and the history of 600 Drake Street inVancouver. https://www.concertproperties.com/rentals/600-drake. I vividly recall the Council discussion about this VLC proposal thirty years ago. Many of the units were so small the project necessitated a reconsideration of minimum unit sizes for market housing in Vancouver, and other municipalities. 

Slides from a presentation given to Metro politicians on the need to be open-minded
when it comes to minimum housing sizes.

Following the Public Hearing, Alderman Jonathan Baker eloquently told the audience and fellow aldermen that he would be opposing the project since "Living in these units will be like living in a coffin".

Well, he was wrong, as this post-occupancy UBC thesis evaluation revealed: https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0086752

But back to Mr. Donnelly's post. Having demonstrated another example of ChatGPT to his readers in an earlier blogpost, he wrote: 

Okay, I really don’t want to make this — using ChatGPT to write my blog posts for me — a habit. But I was genuinely curious what would happen if I asked it to: “write a stereotypical NIMBY letter opposing a new housing development.” Here’s what it generated.

---

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed housing development in our neighborhood. While I understand the need for affordable housing in our city, I believe that this project would have a detrimental impact on our community.

First and foremost, the proposed development is simply too large for our area. The increase in population density would put a strain on our already overburdened infrastructure, leading to increased traffic congestion, noise pollution, and strain on our public services. Additionally, the construction of this project would result in significant environmental damage, destroying natural habitats and putting wildlife at risk.

Furthermore, the type of housing being proposed is simply not in keeping with the character of our neighborhood. This development would bring in a large number of low-income residents, which could lead to increased crime rates and other negative social effects. It would also drastically alter the aesthetic of our area, replacing the existing greenery and open spaces with a monolithic, high-density housing complex.

Finally, I am deeply concerned about the impact this development would have on property values in the surrounding area. The influx of low-income residents could result in a decline in property values, making it difficult for current residents to sell their homes and move elsewhere.

In conclusion, I strongly urge you to reconsider this proposed housing development. While I recognize the need for affordable housing, I believe that this project is simply not the right fit for our neighborhood. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

---

I must say that I’m impressed. It is a solid 5-paragraph letter that follows a tried and true formula. First, the entire letter is sandwiched between thinly veiled statements around the importance of housing. Both the introduction and conclusion speak to “the need for affordable housing.”

And then in the middle of the letter, it hits on the holy trinity of opposition arguments: (1) overburdened/inadequate infrastructure, (2) neighborhood character, and (3) property values. I’m not sure there’s much to improve on here. These computers are good.

So, if you happen to need one of these, you may want to try ChatGPT.

My hope is that at Monday's Public Hearing, someone will recite this letter, or something similar, and councillors will gently smile. And Council will approve the project. 

comments | read more