4 ms·

Ban in the center is not enough, at least for us. Zoning and parking minimums should be ditched too. This would gradually densify the area

fsckboy 2y ago
if you want densification and you're willing to using zoning changes to achieve it, adopt the solution favored by truly dense cities: force more skyscrapers
- Moldoteck 2y ago
  Densification is good up until a point. Ideally you would want mixed use and mixed style development
- Hugsun 2y ago
  I was under the impression that skyscrapers weren't good for dense walkable areas. 4-7 story tall mixed use buildings are supposed to be the best. I'm afraid I don't have a source for this. The Youtube channel Not Just Bikes might have said this.
  - Moldoteck 2y ago
    it's a mixed bag. Some argue that sporadic skyscrapers might be a good thing since those would act as a point of easier orientation in space + providing housing/work area for ppl that want to live/work high. The problem appears when there are too many of them or public transport infra is not adapted to handle such an inflow of people towards a single point
- presentation 2y ago
  Tokyo is truly dense and is not skyscraper heavy. They just have tiny roads and tightly packed buildings, mostly low-rise and single family homes.
  - shiroiushi 2y ago
    It depends on what you consider "low-rise". Different parts of the city have different densities and building heights. Some parts near the center have real skyscrapers (and new ones are under construction now), and other more-central areas are full of buildings that are 5-10 stories or so. Many places are full of apartment blocks, and the newer ones are usually 10-15 stories. Some places are full single-family homes or buildings that have just a handful of apartment units in them. Of course, the taller buildings tend to cluster near train stations more, and the single-family homes tend to be farther from stations since the land is less valuable the farther from a station it is. But yeah, "tiny roads and tightly packed buildings" summarizes Tokyo's layout to a good degree. If you look at Tokyo from a satellite view and compare with typical American cities, the biggest thing you'll probably notice is just how little space is wasted on things like wide multi-lane roads (or stroads), parking lots, and lawns. That's what makes it so walkable, and why public transit works so well here. A 5-minute walk can take you to a very large number of buildings, which equates to a huge number of apartments or businesses. A 5-minute walk in a typical American city like Houston will probably only get you across the street.

fsckboy 2y ago

if you want densification and you're willing to using zoning changes to achieve it, adopt the solution favored by truly dense cities: force more skyscrapers

Moldoteck 2y ago
Densification is good up until a point. Ideally you would want mixed use and mixed style development
Hugsun 2y ago
I was under the impression that skyscrapers weren't good for dense walkable areas. 4-7 story tall mixed use buildings are supposed to be the best. I'm afraid I don't have a source for this. The Youtube channel Not Just Bikes might have said this.
- Moldoteck 2y ago
  it's a mixed bag. Some argue that sporadic skyscrapers might be a good thing since those would act as a point of easier orientation in space + providing housing/work area for ppl that want to live/work high. The problem appears when there are too many of them or public transport infra is not adapted to handle such an inflow of people towards a single point
presentation 2y ago
Tokyo is truly dense and is not skyscraper heavy. They just have tiny roads and tightly packed buildings, mostly low-rise and single family homes.
- shiroiushi 2y ago
  It depends on what you consider "low-rise". Different parts of the city have different densities and building heights. Some parts near the center have real skyscrapers (and new ones are under construction now), and other more-central areas are full of buildings that are 5-10 stories or so. Many places are full of apartment blocks, and the newer ones are usually 10-15 stories. Some places are full single-family homes or buildings that have just a handful of apartment units in them. Of course, the taller buildings tend to cluster near train stations more, and the single-family homes tend to be farther from stations since the land is less valuable the farther from a station it is. But yeah, "tiny roads and tightly packed buildings" summarizes Tokyo's layout to a good degree. If you look at Tokyo from a satellite view and compare with typical American cities, the biggest thing you'll probably notice is just how little space is wasted on things like wide multi-lane roads (or stroads), parking lots, and lawns. That's what makes it so walkable, and why public transit works so well here. A 5-minute walk can take you to a very large number of buildings, which equates to a huge number of apartments or businesses. A 5-minute walk in a typical American city like Houston will probably only get you across the street.