Re:Bay Area tech boom not cause of region's problems
by rayiner on Friday January 17, 2014 @11:01PM
(#7080016)
Things that don't work: rent control, historical preservation restrictions, burdensome light air and view restrictions.
Things that do work: letting rich people move in, letting developers build what they want, and using that massive tax base to build high-quality public transit.
Re:Bay Area tech boom not cause of region's problems
by Khaine on Friday January 17, 2014 @11:42PM
(#7080108)
Letting developers do whatever they please is a horrible idea. Most developers are crooks and do whatever they can to make the most amount of money, which is why most cities have city plans and zones to prevent developers from shitting on everything.
Secondly, historical preservation makes a city what it is. Would Paris be the same without the Eiffel Tower? Good historical preservation enhances and defines the city.
Re:Bay Area tech boom not cause of region's problems
by mc32 on Saturday January 18, 2014 @01:10PM
(#7081635)
On the other hand you have Tokyo where buildings are built for a 25-year lifespan. I would not call Tokyo a boring city, it's just different. It has its own modern character. Also, Paris was planned post WWii, unlike London which is more haphazard in configuration. The Eiffel Tower was nearly demolished after the expo. It's only now that people think of that Iron monstrosity as emblematic of the city. Sometimes a blight does take on its own charm, such as the Eiffel tower, or Tokyo (radio) tower.
I don't know anything about city planning or the history of it, but places like New York must have gone through similar transitions. What worked, what didn't? I feel like there has to be a lot of history to learn from on the topic.