12 ms·

Architectural engineering and zoning are orthogonal. As an example, zoning is about how tall a NYC skyscraper can be, engineering is about it not falling over.

• strangattractor 3y ago
  Really - I didn't read it that way at all. Sure the engineering was shitty because they wanted it cheap. Developers were allowed to bypass normal Zoning and other Regulations (building codes) that required certain engineering and inspections by paying a fee. The end result was quickly built buildings that in a big quake crushed human occupants. I think most of the Zoning laws are about what purposes the building can serve. Like do you really want a meat packing plant built in your neighborhood or a fireworks factory? Now there maybe overly restrictive Zoning but having no Zoning is likely not a good idea.
  • runako 3y ago
    Not speaking for OP, but when people are commenting on affordability and talk about getting rid of zoning, they typically mean "making it easy to build residential dwellings in areas zoned residential." Unfortunately, this is not the case in much of the country now. For example, if you own a single-family home, you are not likely able to: - convert it to a duplex, triplex, or quadplex without changing the footprint of the building - build an ADU for another resident on your property, even if it will fit and otherwise be up to code - tear your house down and build a 5-story residential building These codes aren't about preventing meatpacking plants from being built in residential neighborhoods as much as they are about creating an artificial ceiling on the number of residents of a residential neighborhood.