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SirBMsALot t1_j5pciqf wrote

Reply to comment by VeterinarianOk5370 in The Key to California’s Survival Is Hidden Underground The state is ping-ponging between severe drought and catastrophic flooding. The solution to both? Making the landscape spongier. by Sariel007

You build up and suddenly there’s earthquakes to worry about. Sure there’s pretty good technology for that but it’s still a risk. I know that in San Francisco there was a problem with buildings sinking into the ground due to crappy foundation and the ground being essentially sand

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ocmaddog t1_j5q0ezo wrote

There’s a lot of room between skyscraper and single family home that is not earthquake prone. “Building Up” mostly means 3 to 6 story buildings in certain areas.

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SirBMsALot t1_j5q78s3 wrote

I see. Having lived in SF, the “building up” to a third story is very expensive unfortunately

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ocmaddog t1_j5qaxp3 wrote

I don't doubt it it's difficult to build there, but the rents you'd be able to charge in SF far exceed the seismic expense. Housing isn't built in SF because it is illegal or practically illegal to build there. It's a policy choice made by SF voters.

That's pretty much the story everywhere in California since 1980

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blacksheep1492 t1_j5tft78 wrote

San Francisco built some of its foundations from the ships that were abandoned back during the gold rush.

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SirBMsALot t1_j5u79dt wrote

That’s the Embarcadero and it’s literally a foundation of trash

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