3 ms·

You bring up an interesting point: why don’t developers build walkable communities in the suburbs or exurbs, or even in brand new cities? It would be nice if a

You bring up an interesting point: why don’t developers build walkable communities in the suburbs or exurbs, or even in brand new cities? It would be nice if a developer built a “Nuevo San Francisco” or even a “Nuevo Palo Alto” somewhere in the Central Valley, especially if it could be tied to the upcoming California High Speed Rail line. Yet developers continue to build car-dependent neighborhoods. Now, granted, this won’t solve the problem of housing in San Francisco and other areas with rich job markets but extremely expensive housing. Having to commute three hours away is still a problem. But for those who are willing or able to leave the Bay Area, why aren’t developers generally only building car-dependent suburbs instead of walkable towns and cities?

nradov 3y ago
It seems to be happening. A group of wealthy investors including Laurene Powell Jobs, Marc Andreessen, and Reid Hoffman are building a "utopian city for the tech elite" in Solano County. Until we see more details I don't know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. But previous attempts to build whole new artificial cities have mostly failed. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/18/1200196497/locals-push-back-against-plans-to-build-a-tech-utopia-in-solano-county-calif https://www.npr.org/2023/09/18/1200196497/locals-push-back-a...
CalRobert 3y ago
It's illegal. Parking minimums in particular made it illegal to build nice places. Though they get exceptions sometimes, see culdesac.com
- cortesoft 3y ago
  Parking minimums are local rules, not state law, so wouldn’t be a thing if you are building in unincorporated areas. And in fact, California has passed some laws putting restrictions in place on where you can have parking minimums https://www.capradio.org/articles/2022/10/12/california-law-abolishes-parking-minimums-for-new-developments-close-to-public-transit https://www.capradio.org/articles/2022/10/12/california-law-...
scythe 3y ago
>You bring up an interesting point: why don’t developers build walkable communities in the suburbs or exurbs, or even in brand new cities? Well, it's California, so one part of the answer is probably water rights. In fact you can buy a lot of lovely looking property in coastal California for surprisingly low prices with just one tiny detail missing from the paperwork.
inferiorhuman 3y ago
It's been tried with mixed success. People want San Francisco and the suburbs don't want the poors. https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/california-city-planned-community-explained-18476273.php https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/california-city-planne... https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/california-city-unbuilt-suburb https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/california-city-unbuilt-... https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/mountain-house-city-18373918.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/mountain-house-c...
HDThoreaun 3y ago
Isn't this what's happening in that east bay area where a company bought a fuckload of farmland?

nradov 3y ago

It seems to be happening. A group of wealthy investors including Laurene Powell Jobs, Marc Andreessen, and Reid Hoffman are building a "utopian city for the tech elite" in Solano County. Until we see more details I don't know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. But previous attempts to build whole new artificial cities have mostly failed. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/18/1200196497/locals-push-back-against-plans-to-build-a-tech-utopia-in-solano-county-calif https://www.npr.org/2023/09/18/1200196497/locals-push-back-a...

CalRobert 3y ago

It's illegal. Parking minimums in particular made it illegal to build nice places. Though they get exceptions sometimes, see culdesac.com

cortesoft 3y ago
Parking minimums are local rules, not state law, so wouldn’t be a thing if you are building in unincorporated areas. And in fact, California has passed some laws putting restrictions in place on where you can have parking minimums https://www.capradio.org/articles/2022/10/12/california-law-abolishes-parking-minimums-for-new-developments-close-to-public-transit https://www.capradio.org/articles/2022/10/12/california-law-...

scythe 3y ago

>You bring up an interesting point: why don’t developers build walkable communities in the suburbs or exurbs, or even in brand new cities? Well, it's California, so one part of the answer is probably water rights. In fact you can buy a lot of lovely looking property in coastal California for surprisingly low prices with just one tiny detail missing from the paperwork.

inferiorhuman 3y ago

It's been tried with mixed success. People want San Francisco and the suburbs don't want the poors. https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/california-city-planned-community-explained-18476273.php https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/california-city-planne... https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/california-city-unbuilt-suburb https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/california-city-unbuilt-... https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/mountain-house-city-18373918.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/mountain-house-c...

HDThoreaun 3y ago

Isn't this what's happening in that east bay area where a company bought a fuckload of farmland?