[quote=briansd1]When I look at the old neighborhoods of San Diego, I feel that our building restrictions are a missed opportunity to have a denser, more compact and livable city.
Families would not need to spread out to the suburbs and exurbs if they could rebuild old houses to the size and comfort levels they need.[/quote]
Because you can only see through your eyes, you are missing out on the actualy reasons, they are not what you think.
Families do not all leave the city because they need size and not all people want a more compact and dense workable city. Some of them leave to get away from the people. I am not from the exhurbs, I’ve lived in density, I’ve lived where I didn’t need a car and I have lived on the ocean. When you are young, it makes sense to you, but it doesn’t stay that way for all people. If I could move my large, modern home to the city, I wouldn’t do it. I live away from density because I dislike density and I’m not the only one. It’s true that I live in a moderate amount of density because it fits my needs, that’s my comfor zone but I know people who need five acres to be at peace, that’s what makes them happy. I can appreciate and understand that everyone has their reason. I live on a hill, you cannot walk to a bus stop, a store, or anything within a mile and the hill makes that mile seem even further. That isn’t a drawback, I did that on purpose and while you have probably already decided what is wrong with me and why I don’t think like you, I assure you, you assumptions are incorrect.
San Diego didn’t miss an opportunity, you want to live in London or New York, move. The people that live in the 1700 sq ft craftsmans in 15k lots in the city moved there when that is what surrounded them. They didn’t want to live in a bee hive and I feel for them when it changes around them. So some of them fight it, I think that’s normal, but individual property rights usually prevail however it slows down the process so they can either finish their lives or find another place.
