Re:Why California is so expensive: It’s not just the weather...
by mabbo on Tuesday July 19, 2016 @08:52PM
(#12126105)
I don't disagree with you that tall towers aren't the only way, but the overall point is the same: density must increase. There's very a fixed amount of land, and a growing population so homes / sqmi must increase to meet demand.
Paris had hundreds of years of wanting high density because it pre-dates the age of cars. America (and Canada) were built assuming everyone would drive everywhere, low-density. If you say "Well, we'll slowly allow slightly taller buildings", you won't solve the problem quickly enough- that will take decades.
Someone needs to have the willpower to tell the NIMBY's "sorry, yes in your back yard" and designate some area of town that is allowed to grow. Make a 5-10 year plan to add 50,000-100,000 residents to a 10x10 block area. Plan it to be a nice area you'd want to live in- the lower 2-3 floors of all buildings must be commercial. The owners who live there now will suddenly find they have good offers from developers who want to buy their homes and tear them down.
And then repeat process until housing prices reflect sanity.
Paris had hundreds of years of wanting high density because it pre-dates the age of cars. America (and Canada) were built assuming everyone would drive everywhere, low-density. If you say "Well, we'll slowly allow slightly taller buildings", you won't solve the problem quickly enough- that will take decades.
Someone needs to have the willpower to tell the NIMBY's "sorry, yes in your back yard" and designate some area of town that is allowed to grow. Make a 5-10 year plan to add 50,000-100,000 residents to a 10x10 block area. Plan it to be a nice area you'd want to live in- the lower 2-3 floors of all buildings must be commercial. The owners who live there now will suddenly find they have good offers from developers who want to buy their homes and tear them down.
And then repeat process until housing prices reflect sanity.