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I think to look at Houston a great comparison with the city would be Istanbul. I don't know if it is to make the city Earthquake proof but most people in urban Turkey live in Apartments, like houses are like a needle in a haystack it seems.
In what way exactly? Istanbul is a mega city, Houston is not. Istanbul is a historic city that is struggling with her population - narrow streets, not built for the automobile - whereas Houston is a 'modern' city with wide streets, suburban housing, and sprawls in every direction.
I think to look at Houston a great comparison with the city would be Istanbul. I don't know if it is to make the city Earthquake proof but most people in urban Turkey live in Apartments, like houses are like a needle in a haystack it seems.
Both are incredibly dense areas, in fact Istanbul is by far the densest metro I have ever been in as it has areas with 30,000 ppsm located 30 miles from the center of the city just because the way they build cities. (Next would likely be Lagos, London, Dubai, Birmingham, New York etcetera)
Now Houston would have to change a lot to actually think about restricting growth maybe at 40 miles (commute to Downtown) people will start infilling the various areas of the city that is basically empty).
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9715...7i13312!8i6656
I don't see why Houston couldn't do this of course building codes would have to change or be modified to allow for higher density (instead of making it a carbon copy).
For example if it became that to live on Buffalo Bayou apartments with a parking garage below was necessary so people weren't flooded, Houston could gain huge density just by building like that to avoid flooding. Cities shouldn't build to just build tall buildings, they should build because it's efficient and necessary.
Sure you can get that, but today it's literally illegal to build in the mold of the most historic, urban parts of Northeastern cities. Modern-day zoning and building code regulations will not allow it.
I believe that it was commented...that it would be impractical to try imitating the fine grained urbanism of those cities.
Let alone try to imitate European cities....and even less likely, an ancient city like Istanbul.
The point is to urbanize in a form that is feasible now. And, yes, where applicable alter the zoning.
Last edited by Tim Randal Walker; 12-18-2017 at 11:22 AM..
Houston should try emulating Istanbul's urban character? Ha! Thanks for the laugh
It's always good to shoot for the stars. Plus, in all fairness, he did discriminate between the types of urbanity that would/wouldn't be possible in Houston.
Easy, you do the necessary makeovers, and you have yourself an urban city. For example, wide streets can be narrowed if you establish street level retail on the corridor; some lanes are removed from the street, while the sidewalks are extended to accommodate the new retail.
It occurred to me that you could add bike lanes. I would plan for both cycling and walking.
It's always good to shoot for the stars. Plus, in all fairness, he did discriminate between the types of urbanity that would/wouldn't be possible in Houston.
I looked at an online map of downtown Houston. I am not familiar with Texas cities, but Houston appears to have streets laid out in a rectangular grid pattern-typical of U.S. cities. One advantage of such a grid is that it is relatively easy to fit in rectangular shaped buildings.
I like San Diego of course, but Houston is doing just fine on the path its on. We dont need to try and emulate anyone. Cities need to be themselves.
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