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I mean like is there a point when there will actually be too many people for the city to function? It's already way overcrowded. The city was built a long time ago and clearly wasn't designed for so many people. Subways and roads can only take so much. I doubt that all the mass transit/road, etc upgrading can keep up with the growth. Am I missing something here? If eventually NYC reaches its maximum capacity, what will be done I wonder? Will the already ridiculous real estate prices just shoot up even more to a point where it will stop the growth, since most people just won't be able to afford to live here? But then the regular folk won't be able to live here either to support all the necessary infrastructure. Everybody can't be rich. NYC has been growing dramatically so that's why I am just curious what will happen. NYC Population Growth Highest In Country Since 2010 Census
I mean like is there a point when there will actually be too many people for the city to function? It's already way overcrowded. The city was built a long time ago and clearly wasn't designed for so many people. Subways and roads can only take so much. I doubt that all the mass transit/road, etc upgrading can keep up with the growth. Am I missing something here? If eventually NYC reaches its maximum capacity, what will be done I wonder? Will the already ridiculous real estate prices just shoot up even more to a point where it will stop the growth, since most people just won't be able to afford to live here? But then the regular folk won't be able to live here either to support all the necessary infrastructure. Everybody can't be rich. NYC has been growing dramatically so that's why I am just curious what will happen. NYC Population Growth Highest In Country Since 2010 Census
There are many areas in outer boroughs that are not densely populated.
I mean like is there a point when there will actually be too many people for the city to function? It's already way overcrowded. The city was built a long time ago and clearly wasn't designed for so many people. Subways and roads can only take so much. I doubt that all the mass transit/road, etc upgrading can keep up with the growth. Am I missing something here? If eventually NYC reaches its maximum capacity, what will be done I wonder? Will the already ridiculous real estate prices just shoot up even more to a point where it will stop the growth, since most people just won't be able to afford to live here? But then the regular folk won't be able to live here either to support all the necessary infrastructure. Everybody can't be rich. NYC has been growing dramatically so that's why I am just curious what will happen. NYC Population Growth Highest In Country Since 2010 Census
The infrastructure of the city is being updated. There is a new water system going in, subways are being extended, and train stations refurbished. It's not going as quickly as it should but its happening.
I'd say we have a way to go before reaching "maximum capacity". Historically speaking, the city hasn't grown nearly as quickly as it has in the past. Up until 1930, the city experienced double digit growth every ten years or so and by 1980 the city experienced a 10% population decline.
In other words, I think sensational stories about NYC population growth are exaggerated. I think that housing price increases have more to do with the city becoming a desirable and safer place to live.
I think they are dense enough, and traffic is horrible even in the outer parts of outer boroughs.
Maybe dense enough for you, but they are no where near the "maximum capacity" you're talking about. It is entirely possible using just the current level of technology for NYC to double in population. For example, if Staten Island densifies to the average density of Brooklyn, NYC can add 2 million more people... and thats just SI alone. Queens could easily reach 4 million people too, without even approaching close to Manhattan density. All of the boroughs (even Manhattan) still have vast amounts of underdeveloped post industrial land. The theoretical maximum capacity for NYC with current technology is around 20 million people.
On the scale of densely populated (world) cities, NYC is no where nearly as densely populated as Mumbai, Beijing., Moscow, Seoul or countless other places in Asia (and South America for that matter). So yes, there is room to grow particularity in the outer boroughs which is why I suspect neighborhood (re)development will come to play a larger part as the population increases.
As for traffic, it isn't as much of an issue- or shouldn't be as much of an issue- since so many NYers rely on public transportation.
NYC is a tall city. It can't keep growing horizontally, but vertically? Hey, the sky is the limit. I already see a lot of mini sky-scrapers poping up in LIC, Downtown Brooklyn and even the Bronx.
Neccesity is the mother of all inventions, and as such, tall, smart buildings will help the city cope with an ever growing population.
As for transportation, techonology will completely overhaul the way we look at city traffic. With driverless cars equiped with sensors, traffic jams will probably be a thing of the past in 50 yrs from now. The rise of bicycles as viable method of transportation will also help deal with the population grow.
We will manage and adapt as we have done throughout human history.
Techonology will be our main tool to achive those goals.
Maybe dense enough for you, but they are no where near the "maximum capacity" you're talking about. It is entirely possible using just the current level of technology for NYC to double in population. For example, if Staten Island densifies to the average density of Brooklyn, NYC can add 2 million more people... and thats just SI alone. Queens could easily reach 4 million people too, without even approaching close to Manhattan density. All of the boroughs (even Manhattan) still have vast amounts of underdeveloped post industrial land. The theoretical maximum capacity for NYC with current technology is around 20 million people.
SI will not densify like BK cuz there is no rail there connecting it to the rest of the city.
I realize other parts have space, but what about people with cars? Roads are already overloaded.
. The rise of bicycles as viable method of transportation will also help deal with the population grow.
I'm not a bike fanatic BUT I really do think making NYC more "bikeable" and bike friendly would go a long way in terms of intercity mobility and ease the noise, congestion, and pollution caused by all the traffic. If anyone has ever been to Amsterdam that city is remarkable in terms of how bikeable it is! I've been trying to dig up some history on how it got to be that way.
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