4 ms·

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.

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.