There are few hot buttons in planning conversation like the word “density.” One writer in San Diego claims that the breakdown inspired by the term originates from concerns with cars, not buildings.
Walter Chambers examines the ongoing contentiousness in the city of San Diego surrounding the word density. Chambers points out that density can lend itself to technical and impersonal considerations, rather than focusing not he quality of life benefits that are possible when people live and interact in proximity to each other.
“But when the conversation turns to density, we talk about objects — number of apartments, big buildings, etc. To make matters worse, community planners talk about density as ‘dwelling units per acre’ (du/acre), which doesn’t exactly speak to people and experiences.”
Intead, Chambers recommends that planners should talk “in terms of how people make a great city. Let’s understand density as increasing the opportunities for social exchanges between people, or ‘social exchanges per acre’ (sx/acre). Let’s talk about people and experiences.”
The real issue, however, is that “When you look at city planning from [an] auto-centric point of view, which most of us have been taught to do, higher density doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
FULL STORY: Density Isn’t a Dirty Word

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Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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