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This is more about the city than the house. To build a walkable city requires a certain density. Great public transportation requires density. Density is not possible with US style sprawl.

As evidence, look at what people are willing to pay for a tiny apartment in London.

But the canyon effect of cities built entirely of skyscrapers is also not nice.

Great cities also have trees and grass everywhere.

And mixed use is needed. Being able to walk a block to get eggs from the corner store or grab a pint at the pub is amazing. That also is not possible with US style single use zoning.

We have also tried “towers in the park” style developments. Those are too spread out to walk or bike.

There is probably a way to get density for public transport and walkability, a few taller buildings but not too many to cause canyons, and street level businesses, but the easy answer is to stay with what has worked all over the world and simply build mid-rise buildings.

Also, US style sprawl is expensive. The upkeep to pave the roads every 5-10 years, maintain sidewalks, and the longer utilities, is usually far more than what the homeowners pay in taxes. Cities either raise taxes, let older neighborhoods crumble (common), or subsidize suburban areas with tax revenue from the dense areas (common). US urban sprawl is not sustainable.




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