4 ms·
> 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
by 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 agoWhen 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 agoTrue, 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.