Yes, they did all those things. They also set aside large parcels of open space, so that only half the surrounding area became a suburban hellhole. In between

Yes, they did all those things. They also set aside large parcels of open space, so that only half the surrounding area became a suburban hellhole. In between the wilderness and Hoboken NJ there is a broad range of possibilities. Somewhere in between those two extremes is a nice middle-ground where things are not too sparse and not too crowded. The San Francisco peninsula has been close to that happy medium for a long time, so I'm pretty sure it could stand to lose a few people and still stay in the desirable range. Yes, density has all kinds of societal benefits. The problem is, not everyone wants to live that way.