Character
San Francisco is one of the densest cities in the United States. We also have some of the busiest transit systems (BART, Muni, Golden Gate, Ferries, etc.). These two things should make a perfect location for Transit Oriented Development.
TOD doesn’t have a technical definition, but the theory is to provide more housing within a 1/2 mile of a fixed transit system. People then walk, bike or use transit instead of personal automobiles. Housing then can use less space for parking, and the entire neighborhood becomes walkable and ‘complete’.
In these terms, nearly all of our 7×7 city meets or exceeds expectations. Muni’s busses service every neighborhood, and BART and Muni’s Rail system provide faster service from farther distances. The problem is, despite our rather high density of 16,000 people per square mile, we’re out of room. Yes, single family houses are still wedged onto tiny lots, but to accommodate more housing, we need to build up.
Much of San Francisco’s charm lies in its neighborhoods. People enjoy the 2-3 story buildings that line our hills. But any attempt at preserving character typically becomes a matter of stopping any development. After the creation of Planning Department, the rise of neighborhood associations, and several Propositions, most large projects have been torpedoed.
I acknowledge that awkward towers on Russian Hill are anachronous, but many area have great capacity for growth. Sustainable growth that can reshape the city and take advantage of existing transit. We need to come to terms with denser and higher buildings, because it is inevitable. Population growth and environmental concerns demand that we reexamine our priorities, and begin designing a new San Francisco.
Comments
Leave a Reply
