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Sorry for being so ignorant about particularities of American zoning (I hardly know more than what you pick up playing the original Sim City): could it be easie

by usrusr 5y ago

Sorry for being so ignorant about particularities of American zoning (I hardly know more than what you pick up playing the original Sim City): could it be easier to shift commercial to high density residential? Of course the general threat to owners would still be there, "if we solve the housing crisis my Prophet might stop appreciating like mad". But that's true for any approach short of an October 1917 reenactment. And are commercial acres actually valued higher than residential across all density ranges? If not, would regulation actually prevent repurposing? If only the latter was true I'd expect The Most American Thing to happen, finger to regulation in the shape of habitation-as-a-service companies (long term lease disguised as hotels) gobbling up unprofitable locations left and right. Call the company Beanberia if you feel particularly uncreative.

kenhwang 5y ago
From what I can see, many cities are much more open to commercial zones being rezoned to high density mixed-use. There's quite a lot of empty strip malls and big box retailer spaces these days. Nearby businesses don't mind the change in zoning since it brings in a reliable customer base, and it's easier attracting people to live there since its conveniently located near shopping.
danans 5y ago
> could it be easier to shift commercial to high density residential? In some places it's possible, as long as the commercial spaces naturally lend themselves to residential occupation, or in places with enough demand to justify the costs of tearing down existing commercial spaces and building residential structures. But most unused (therefore in theory available) American commercial space isn't comprised of smaller 19th century brick warehouses that you can convert into chic lofts. Rather, it's more like abandoned or underutilized suburban shopping malls that can't be easily repurposed into housing. The most basic issue is that these buildings don't have many exterior windows. After all, in an indoor shopping mall, the whole point generally is to create an environment that isolates you from the outdoors by keeping it at a large distance. Apartment buildings need to keep more access to the outdoors, both for light and ventilation reasons.
- usrusr 5y ago
  When you rezone low density residential into high density residential the apartments wouldn't appear by repurposing existing structures either. What I could imagine being a problem is rules applying to e.g. the land of an abandoned mall not allowing sufficient elevation. Because "high above" is what you'd want to offer potential residents in exchange for a not so nice ground environment. Perhaps even skip a few floors (between parking and living), empty space earmarked for possible future light commercial development. The elevators won't mind.
  - danans 5y ago
    > When you rezone low density residential into high density residential the apartments wouldn't appear by repurposing existing structures either. Many large homes could be converted to duplexes, and homes with large lots could add accessory dwelling units, or sometimes, an additional home to make a "freestanding condominium" development.
    - usrusr 5y ago
      True, exactly the same thing happened all around my childhood home during and after my time there. I might be prone to take that as a given... But that's still just a marginal density increase that is unlikely to reach any of the density thresholds where the density starts having benefits from the individual point of view, not only downsides. Benefits like walkable range amenities and necessities becoming economically viable. Without reaching those thresholds, the density increase is only beneficial on society level. On the individual level, you only get the drawbacks and none of the rewards.
mrkstu 5y ago
This is definitely a major part of the solution. Places like The Domain[0] in Austin should be a model for mixed use development. https://www.galleryatdomain.com/gallery-at-domain-austin-texas/ https://www.galleryatdomain.com/gallery-at-domain-austin-tex...

by usrusr 5y ago

kenhwang 5y ago

From what I can see, many cities are much more open to commercial zones being rezoned to high density mixed-use. There's quite a lot of empty strip malls and big box retailer spaces these days. Nearby businesses don't mind the change in zoning since it brings in a reliable customer base, and it's easier attracting people to live there since its conveniently located near shopping.

danans 5y ago

> could it be easier to shift commercial to high density residential? In some places it's possible, as long as the commercial spaces naturally lend themselves to residential occupation, or in places with enough demand to justify the costs of tearing down existing commercial spaces and building residential structures. But most unused (therefore in theory available) American commercial space isn't comprised of smaller 19th century brick warehouses that you can convert into chic lofts. Rather, it's more like abandoned or underutilized suburban shopping malls that can't be easily repurposed into housing. The most basic issue is that these buildings don't have many exterior windows. After all, in an indoor shopping mall, the whole point generally is to create an environment that isolates you from the outdoors by keeping it at a large distance. Apartment buildings need to keep more access to the outdoors, both for light and ventilation reasons.

usrusr 5y ago
When you rezone low density residential into high density residential the apartments wouldn't appear by repurposing existing structures either. What I could imagine being a problem is rules applying to e.g. the land of an abandoned mall not allowing sufficient elevation. Because "high above" is what you'd want to offer potential residents in exchange for a not so nice ground environment. Perhaps even skip a few floors (between parking and living), empty space earmarked for possible future light commercial development. The elevators won't mind.
- danans 5y ago
  > When you rezone low density residential into high density residential the apartments wouldn't appear by repurposing existing structures either. Many large homes could be converted to duplexes, and homes with large lots could add accessory dwelling units, or sometimes, an additional home to make a "freestanding condominium" development.
  - usrusr 5y ago
    True, exactly the same thing happened all around my childhood home during and after my time there. I might be prone to take that as a given... But that's still just a marginal density increase that is unlikely to reach any of the density thresholds where the density starts having benefits from the individual point of view, not only downsides. Benefits like walkable range amenities and necessities becoming economically viable. Without reaching those thresholds, the density increase is only beneficial on society level. On the individual level, you only get the drawbacks and none of the rewards.

mrkstu 5y ago

This is definitely a major part of the solution. Places like The Domain[0] in Austin should be a model for mixed use development. https://www.galleryatdomain.com/gallery-at-domain-austin-texas/ https://www.galleryatdomain.com/gallery-at-domain-austin-tex...