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Build Baby Build! I was first aghast when I saw the new big apartment buildings coming up on El Camino Real and San Antonio Ave in Mountain View and Sunnyvale-
by vadym909 10y ago
Build Baby Build!
I was first aghast when I saw the new big apartment buildings coming up on El Camino Real and San Antonio Ave in Mountain View and Sunnyvale- with barely 1-5 feet set back from the the sidewalk. Then I realized which side of the table I was and I was like Fuck It. It may not be pretty, someone pulled a fast one on the Inspector/Panel/whoever but they are helping me with making more housing avbl and hopefully rents more affordable.
- davidw 10y agoSetbacks are very often a complete waste of space. I think www.strongtowns.org has some articles explaining the details.
- rhizome 10y agoI believe these are streets with CalTrans right of way, which means the ROW extends the whole sidewalk. They (or MV) likely require the setback at property lines as a matter of course, and in turn the developer would want that space for balconies or bay windows or whatever that they can't hang over the line.
- TulliusCicero 10y agoWhat's wrong with no/tiny setbacks? Seems inevitable that you'll use space more efficiently for stuff as an area gains population and densifies. Plus it's a million times better than enormous parking lots in front of every business/strip mall. Those things are majorly hostile to any transportation mode other than cars.
- vadym909 10y agoNo setbacks, in many people's opinion is that it creates a tunnel like effect on the street and cuts out light on the lower floors shops and offices. Its also not the norm in the Area. I guess setbacks are a 'nice to have' if you are an owner in the area. As an overpaying renter, I couldn't care less.