"If we suddenly rezoned vast swaths of the city to re-legalize commercial buildings, we would probably not see a dramatic surge in new businesses springing up in every neighborhood. But we can be certain that small neighborhood-oriented businesses will never open in locations where they’re illegal."
I lived and worked outside of the US for 6 six years. Every neighborhood had little, tiny fresh produce markets and bakeries within easy walking distance. Produce and breads were so inexpensive. Why is this same model impossible in US cities and suburbs?
The short answer is the automobile and single family zoning.
Not so simple. The neighborhoods I'm referring to are single family and 6-8 unit blogs. Everyone had cars for work and play. The markets were in neighborhoods as well as business and industrial areas. Better answer - plan for easy access to basic needs, not strip malls full of BS consumerism. 1/2
Maybe it couldn't be duplicated 100%, but why not carve out zoning for markets? Who will gain from easy access to fresh, locally sourced food? Who stands to lose business? Follow the money. In America, it's always about the money. 2/2
Yes, single family zoning, mandatory parking minimums (and other designed-for-car space wasting), fire exit laws (mandatory 2 stairwells for 3 floor buildings), average american loathing of mass transit, and etc All this stuff prevents European style mixed use neighborhoods here.
Things are improving in a lot of places though
Grew up in St. Paul, midway. Corner store 2 blocks away.
You don’t have to legalize all commercial buildings, just neighborhood businesses.
There are quite a few remnants of these in Longfellow neighborhood of Mpls. Many are homes now.
Slippery slope. Suggest letting neighbors decide with locked-in constraints. I’d go ballistic if a Starbucks opened next door with their rubbish along the property line.
NIMBYs.
