On: Someday Worth Billions, but Now, They Need a Desk

[clarky07]

And you are wrong about it being one of the most densely populated areas in the US? 20th isn't that high.

[tzs → clarky07]

Many of those listed above SF on that list are tiny areas within a large continuous dense urban area. They don't really have much independent significance from the surrounding area economically. They are basically historical artifacts, from a time before they all grew and merged together in all but city government.

[timr → clarky07]

Real estate is expensive here in large part because it's very densely populated. Whether or not it's #1 or #1,000 on that wikipedia list is almost completely irrelevant to the point I was making.

[DannyBee → timr]

So the fact that construction cost per square foot is ridiculously high in SF (as are planning expenses as a percentage of overall construction cost) has nothing to do it ?

[timr → DannyBee]

Exactly. That's why I said "in large part". Because I meant "entirely explained by".

[DannyBee → timr]

In my experience, when people say "x is caused in large part by y", they then provide some form of evidence to back this statement up.

Instead, you haven't. In fact, when presented with contrary data as has happened in other parts of this thread, you have told people:

1. They are interpreting it wrong

2. Despite the fact that it contradicts your point, it in fact supports your point.

Given that, i'd suggest either

1. You become an economist

2. You realize you need to explain yourself better if you want to actually convince people your opinion is right.

So far, you have convinced no one that I can see, nor actually responded substantively to any point raised against your argument.

[jacques_chester → timr]

OK, ceteris paribus, how does higher density drive up prices?

It would seem to me that the arrow of causality points the other way. Higher prices --> higher buildings --> higher density.

[timr → jacques_chester]

"It would seem to me that the arrow of causality points the other way. Higher prices --> higher buildings --> higher density."

Right. Land was just expensive here before all those people moved in and started competing for it.

[jacques_chester → timr]

Right. So what happens when the arrow is broken at the "higher buildings" point?