Heh, not to be the guy posting urbankchoze links all day but the author has thoughts on this as well actually[0]. The whole article is a good read but the thin

Heh, not to be the guy posting urbankchoze links all day but the author has thoughts on this as well actually[0]. The whole article is a good read but the thing that feels most pertinent is the idea of dynamic zoning; instead of zoning an area for single family residential you'd essentially zone areas such that new construction rules would be: - allowed_height = max(2, ceil(avg_area_height * 1.5)) - allowed_occupancy = ceil(avg_area_occupancy * 1.5) And then without the need for zoning exemptions and political zoning fights, you let neighborhoods up zone themselves organically based on demand. Average building two stories? You can build a three story low rise. Average height three stories? You can build a five story replacement. I think lowering the barriers to higher density in-fill would effectively accomplish what you're aiming for while side stepping some of the political issues you've foreseen with raising taxes on people until they're forced to leave their homes. [0]: http://urbankchoze.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-to-make-urban-housing-more_7.html?m=1 http://urbankchoze.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-to-make-urban-ho...