i don't care much for government control but i do think that there should be a law put in place that retail shops and mall stores should be required to have apartments on the second story. it is a waste of vertical space not to use the second story and apartments over shops would create more opportunity for people to live closer to where they work. parking could be by permit in the mall lot. i would limit the occupancy to older people without children so children don't have to play around cars and i would build smaller units of one bedroom flats.
Originally posted by reinfeldWhy not let the free market determine who builds and lives where (within applicable zoning laws, of course)? If it's most efficient to build residential units over stores, people will do it, regardless of whether you force them to.
i don't care much for government control but i do think that there should be a law put in place that retail shops and mall stores should be required to have apartments on the second story. it is a waste of vertical space not to use the second story and apartments over shops would create more opportunity for people to live closer to where they work. parkin ...[text shortened]... children don't have to play around cars and i would build smaller units of one bedroom flats.
It seems that many zoning laws specifically prohibit this sort of thing.
I agree with reinfeld - it would make a lot of sense to have commercial outlets including malls rent out unused space for residential use. These would be people who would be able to live literally right above the place where they would be doing all their shopping - meaning that they wouldn't have to use their car for this purpose.
I don't think there would need to be a requirement - just eliminate the zoning laws and let the free market do its thing.
Originally posted by reinfeldYou this type of building in the older downtowns and main streets (generally places that were built before WW II).
common in europe but not in the usa. this type of building and extensive trolley systems are two things the usa needs to learn from europe.
Originally posted by reinfeldYou haven't been to New York much, have you?
common in europe but not in the usa. this type of building and extensive trolley systems are two things the usa needs to learn from europe.
In New York, residential apartments above commercial stores are par for the course; and not just in Manhattan, in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx too.
As for the trolley, we tried that (where do you think the Brooklyn Dodgers got their name? People "dodging" trolleys) Some cities, like Boston and SF still run trolleys. Most cities have moves their train systems underground. There's no room for an above ground trolley system in Manhattan.
i.e., places where people don't have a choice.
who'd live over a store if they could buy something that WASN'T over a store?
most places here aren't crammed together like that.
there is a billboard in Houston for a house rental company, with a cartoon bee on it: "Live like people, not like bees!"
Originally posted by sh76"most" NE "cities", maybe.
You haven't been to New York much, have you?
In New York, residential apartments above commercial stores are par for the course; and not just in Manhattan, in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx too.
As for the trolley, we tried that (where do you think the Brooklyn Dodgers got their name? People "dodging" trolleys) Some cities, like Boston and SF still run tr ...[text shortened]... train systems underground. There's no room for an above ground trolley system in Manhattan.
Originally posted by zeeblebotIs that right? I know the Bay Area has the BART. Come to think of it, you're right that most major western cities (Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Vegas, etc.) don't have subway systems. Do midwestern cities like St. Louis, Chicago and Houston have subways?
"most" NE "cities", maybe.