4 ms·

What part of San Francisco with 1 story houses are you talking about? I lived there for 5 years and the only ones I remember were in the parks. Even the low den

by kurthr 8y ago

What part of San Francisco with 1 story houses are you talking about? I lived there for 5 years and the only ones I remember were in the parks. Even the low density is almost all 2 story just to have a parking space. No, I'm talking about the burbs where they've decided to put 5 story commercial next to city blocks of single family homes on quarter acre lots. 2 stories would be fine... 25% of the houses are anyway. There's always going to be an edge to zoning, but going from 1 story to 5 is stupid. There's no parking, no transit, no shopping, just offices and houses. The commercial was single story and fit into the neighborhood, but now going 5 it's just going to cause problems.

Camillo 8y ago
Your city probably doesn't care about urban design at all. They want the tax money from businesses, but they also want to restrict housing, so they have to spend less on services and property costs rise as much as possible. Therefore, 2 stories residential is too much, but 5 stories business is fine.
- kurthr 8y ago
  I think there's something to what you say... but I also follow the general rule of politics, follow the money. The developers/RE give the most money and they get what they want where they want it. I kinda hope that the city at least realizes that most housing won't pay for its city services with taxes, but I really think it's more short term money grab by influential people investing Other People's Money. They don't care what happens after they've sold it.
jacobolus 8y ago
More than half of the area of San Francisco is zoned to only allow single family houses or (in some parts) duplexes, with height limited to about 2 stories. 3–5 story apartment buildings are not allowed. All the pale yellow part, https://sf-planning.org/zoning-map https://sf-planning.org/zoning-map What city do you live in?
- kurthr 8y ago
  I moved out of town where demand is likely to pick up when the tech 30 somethings discover they don't want to raise kids in the city. I watched the city get decimated of artists, great restaurants, and interesting architecture in the 2000 boom and again recently. The number of people who have to commute in just to support the lifestyle of higher incomes and the neighborhood color they squeeze out is part of what got me to leave. People who grew up there, love the city, and want to contribute to making it better deserve a chance to stay rather than getting gentrified out. I also hate the empty buildings on Prop13 valuations waiting for prices to go up even more. https://www.salon.com/2018/11/04/despite-thorough-debunking-neoliberal-housing-politics-prevail-in-the-bay-area/ https://www.salon.com/2018/11/04/despite-thorough-debunking-... YIMBY won't reduce the homeless population, make housing more affordable, or the city more livable... it's not a simple market and pretending it is won't solve the problems.

by kurthr 8y ago

Camillo 8y ago

Your city probably doesn't care about urban design at all. They want the tax money from businesses, but they also want to restrict housing, so they have to spend less on services and property costs rise as much as possible. Therefore, 2 stories residential is too much, but 5 stories business is fine.

kurthr 8y ago
I think there's something to what you say... but I also follow the general rule of politics, follow the money. The developers/RE give the most money and they get what they want where they want it. I kinda hope that the city at least realizes that most housing won't pay for its city services with taxes, but I really think it's more short term money grab by influential people investing Other People's Money. They don't care what happens after they've sold it.

jacobolus 8y ago

More than half of the area of San Francisco is zoned to only allow single family houses or (in some parts) duplexes, with height limited to about 2 stories. 3–5 story apartment buildings are not allowed. All the pale yellow part, https://sf-planning.org/zoning-map https://sf-planning.org/zoning-map What city do you live in?

kurthr 8y ago
I moved out of town where demand is likely to pick up when the tech 30 somethings discover they don't want to raise kids in the city. I watched the city get decimated of artists, great restaurants, and interesting architecture in the 2000 boom and again recently. The number of people who have to commute in just to support the lifestyle of higher incomes and the neighborhood color they squeeze out is part of what got me to leave. People who grew up there, love the city, and want to contribute to making it better deserve a chance to stay rather than getting gentrified out. I also hate the empty buildings on Prop13 valuations waiting for prices to go up even more. https://www.salon.com/2018/11/04/despite-thorough-debunking-neoliberal-housing-politics-prevail-in-the-bay-area/ https://www.salon.com/2018/11/04/despite-thorough-debunking-... YIMBY won't reduce the homeless population, make housing more affordable, or the city more livable... it's not a simple market and pretending it is won't solve the problems.