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Old Posted Apr 5, 2012, 7:34 PM
mhays mhays is online now
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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More about that: Let's assume that your walkways are already road width, and the buildings you're keeping are structurally independent. You still have to build new exteriors on three sides of those middle buildings, to handle the weather, etc. They're probably crappy buildings to begin with, beyond their life cycles or close to them, so full conversions might cost as much as building new anyway even without the exterior issue. In many cases (including seismic zones) the structures might not be up to code even if in good repair. Building streets, stormwater pipes, etc., would be more expensive in a confined space, though doable.

So it might make sense to save some freestanding or nearly freestanding buildings, like a department store, or newer construction, but not the crappy 70s lowrises.
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