The conservative case for denser cities

[memphis]

Treasure Island and West Oakland are some good places for lots of new apartment buildings.

I understand things are headed in the right direction over there, but I still wouldn't call West Oakland a "good" place for lots of new apartment buildings. Most people with any sort of alternative wouldn't even consider living there. Legal issues notwithstanding, from my point of view, most of the Presidio is an enormous waste of space in a city that is starved for real estate. If I were emperor, that's where I'd start in creating new housing for San Francisco.

[memphis]

Treasure Island and West Oakland are some good places for lots of new apartment buildings.

I understand things are headed in the right direction over there, but I still wouldn't call West Oakland a "good" place for lots of new apartment buildings. Most people with any sort of alternative wouldn't even consider living there. Legal issues notwithstanding, from my point of view, most of the Presidio is an enormous waste of space in a city that is starved for real estate. If I were emperor, that's where I'd start in creating new housing for San Francisco.

Well, we need to keep parks. Should we replace Central Park by housing?

Golden Gate Park is San Fran's Central Park, and I wouldn't touch either one.. The Presidio is very different. It's an old military installation and devotes an enormous amount of land to preserving very small early 20th century wooden buildings. I don't really get what it's all about. Many are just old shacks. In a parallel universe where the old Defense Depot here in Memphis were sitting on insanely valuable real estate, I would definitely want it put to good use.