Americans simply want a lot more space. If a developer built smaller sized 3 or 4 bedroom apartments they would have trouble selling to the price point they want.
All those above are just few and general top-hierarchy of a forest of rules.
Yes, those are all important and good for you, BUT all that add up to the cost for the actual build.
The land itself that is to be developed has to go through a long line of expensive processes, tests and certifications. Investigations to ensure that there is no disturbing bird nesting areas, or too close to small streams that may have rare species.
Again, all that is good, but cost and will drive up the price of the final product.
I've a relative in construction, and he notes that margins are so small it doesn't make much sense for all that effort when there are other options.
Americans will pay the most for the smallest spaces, such as in NY.
Imagine you went to those people paying high rent for a small place and moved them to a small town in Montana, keeping the same pay. The cost of living makes it possible to own a large house in town near everything there is to do, so would they continue to live in a small space anyway?
> If you need to live in NY ... If you can move to New Jersey ...
That assumes people live in NY because they must, and move to NJ if they can. IME, it's usually quite the opposite! But of course many do prefer - well, they'd prefer Westchester. :)
> The cost of living makes it possible to own a large house in town near everything there is to do, so would they continue to live in a small space anyway?
That's true anywhere, including midtown Manhatten. If someone could afford a nice ranch house with a yard there, they'd buy it! :)
That is the point: people are living in small places in NY not because they prefer small places, but because overall that is the best compromise for their current life situation. Change something about your life situation and the best compromise changes.
Right, who said otherwise?
I'm American and I don't. Stop stereotyping.
I live in a wealthy, 99% white zip code and that’s exactly how it happened.
Things here are really, really bad. Zoning is the only lever we have to fix it.
Increasing sprawl is fiscally irresponsible and most cities are underwater without extra funding as it is.
Yes dark is not a good argument against this, but it still isn't practical to have apartments that small - it has been done, but all the cases I know of it was out of spite. (someone ended up with a small lot and didn't want to sell)