The best way to make housing cheaper is to build more of it

The title says it all. The best and easiest way to make housing affordable is also the most obvious way. Build more of it. This means easing the permitting process and most important of all, getting rid of minimum parking standards. The city of Minneapolis got rid of its parking minimums in 2015 and it has been a national leader and keeping rental costs low for residents. If the city's goal is to create a diverse, inclusive and enticing downtown for residents to walk, it should get rid of all the parking lots, which seem to take up as much physical area as the stores themselves. Turn those parking lots into apartment complexes and townhouses and housing will get cheaper. Vacancy rates will go up and it will force rents down. Rents going down will encourage more people to rent instead of own and that will bring real estate costs under control and it will all make the city more vibrant and attractive for young people.