> Americans are fine with tearing down almost anything (except designated landmarks) to build something "better" than before.
Unless that "anything" are super-expensive detached single-family homes on relatively large lots, and the proposed replacement is something that increases density. :-)
Oh, I'm obviously taking a pot shot at the Bay Area, but the influential underlying psychology exists to some extent everywhere else in the country, too. The vast majority of the country has zoning rules designed to prevent any expansion that isn't horizontal.
Or if it qualifies as something qualifying as, "not in my backyard".
And this isn't unique to that area: Transform a cornfield into low-cost housing next to a "nice" area. Put a halfway house in place of a fire-gutted house. Even worse, put in a prison (which keeps crime rates lower than average).
Unless that "anything" are super-expensive detached single-family homes on relatively large lots, and the proposed replacement is something that increases density. :-)
Oh, I'm obviously taking a pot shot at the Bay Area, but the influential underlying psychology exists to some extent everywhere else in the country, too. The vast majority of the country has zoning rules designed to prevent any expansion that isn't horizontal.