• player1@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    24
    arrow-down
    46
    ·
    1 year ago

    For the millionth time it’s not that simple. Retrofitting commercial buildings is often impossible or more expensive than just demolishing and building new which is also ungodly expensive especially with how high interest rates are right now. Unless cities step in with millions of dollars per project it’s usually not financially possible.

    • Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      17
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Retrofitting commercial buildings is often impossible or more expensive than just demolishing

      That sounds like a “them” problem.

      They can watch their investments dry up and lose billions, or pivot to the new market. Not our fault they’re stuck in the 80s.

    • I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      1 year ago

      I live on the North end of the SF Bay Area and literally every empty lot and a shit load of pasture land and open space is currently being developed into either low income apartments, high end apartments, town houses or track homes. It’s honestly kind of shocking. Everywhere you go, new residential development.

      Sonoma County supervisors were supposed to vote on a housing development plan in January, but failed to do so until August, and in the meantime there was a special rule that allowed builders to go ahead without most of the red tape they usually face. They took the opportunity and ran with it.

      • player1@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Actually it’s not bullshit. Most office buildings are designed with large core space where the elevators and stairs etc go. That’s not at all how apartment buildings are designed. Changing that is extremely expensive.