> I'm not sure why people are so resistant to this idea. We have been under building for decades in the places where people want to live, the places that are economically productive.
There is a lot of marketing that was driven at Americans to think that a detached single family home is the only way to live, and it's going to be hard to undo.
The sprawling 20 and 30 story apartment complexes that are all around Taipei really expanded my view of how other countries do it. “Fields and fields” of these massive structures. Someplace tourists never go I’m certain.
Hadn’t seen anything like in NY or LA, etc.
I agree there are other ways to do it, I double agree it’s going to be hard if not impossible.
Look at how strong NIMBY is in SF with people who consider themselves to be bleeding heart ultra progressives. Everyone clams up when it effects them, but, build somewhere else? “Oh we definitely need to do that!”.
>>The sprawling 20 and 30 story apartment complexes that are all around Taipei really expanded my view of how other countries do it. “Fields and fields” of these massive structures.
As an Indian. This culture caught on some time here in Bangalore early 2000s. But most people, even those living in large apartments, eventually prefer living in individual detached homes over time. Simple reason: Privacy. There are also a whole lot of other things. Space to dry clothes, walking space. Disturbance from from people staying the floor above. Unhygienic neighbours. etc etc.
The plus point is it comes inside a gated community. It's Brazil like inequality contrast here in Bangalore these days. Rich IT/software MNC working families live behind these bespoke apartment gated communities. Which is often contained within a larger slum.
The detached home/row houses gated communities are fairly expensive and in terms of US dollars are anywhere between $500K to $1 million. Most people buying these are people who won the higher salary software job lottery.
People like me who have always been there in Bangalore stay in the inner parts of the city which are not this cool and jazzy. Most homes are old, crumbling and roads are full of potholes. It's mixed population and the areas aren't all that much gentrified. So not many posh software people like to stay here.
Eventually you just pay extra for living among people of your income class.
My nephew and his wife had a house, sold it, and moved to a brand new apartment building in our downtown area. This is supposedly an upscale development, with 2BR renting for $1900/mo in a city of 40K where most apartments rent for $800-1200.
I say supposedly, because instead of an upscale living experience, here's what they got:
1. the door to the parking garage is some fancy automated thing with sensors on the headlights. It doesn't work, so they have to keep backing up and re-approaching the door several times before it opens. Other residents have had the same problem.
2. Pets are allowed but are supposed to be leashed. People let their pets run around all the time not on a leash
3. There is a park across the street for people and dogs. People don't pick up their dogs' poop like they're supposed to.
4. People have dogs that bark in the apartment for hours on end. They've left notes on the door (ignored), called management ("We'll take care of it" but they don't), and ended up confronting the person directly. The dog owner acted like she didn't know anything about it.
5. Yesterday my nephew said they arrested a guy who was harassing people at the pool and people sitting on their balconies. He was also threatening the apt staff, so police arrested him.
This apt complex (according to my nephew) has a goal of filling up the building and then selling it, so they have all kinds of rent incentives and allow guarantors for people who don't really have $1900/mo for rent.
Who wants to put up with this kind of shit? This is only a 3-story apt building. I can't even imagine the kinds of problems in a 30-story apt building.
They're moving into a detached single-family house after their first-year lease is up.
> to think that a detached single family home is the only way to live
This isn't purely marketing. A lot of it is lived experience. Americans are generally just straight up terrible neighbors, and neither building owners nor police care. Many of us have learned that a 40 foot setback works way better than a poorly-sound-insulated 2x4 wall.
There is a lot of marketing that was driven at Americans to think that a detached single family home is the only way to live, and it's going to be hard to undo.