Living In A Van in Google's Backyard • Hacker News Board

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#11

Post by jerkstate » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:13 PM UTC

nwsm wrote: post #9

jerkstate wrote: post #7

Startup idea: convert traditional multilevel parking lots in urban centers to RV parks. Run power, water, and sewage to each space. Build a shared gym/kitchen to charge access to. Even install car elevators to really pack ‘em in! You could also lobby for enforcement and fines to go up in your local area to increase your customer base! Not dystopian at all!

I think you just invented apartments, which would need residential zoning, which is already the problem.

No, I’m disrupting zoning laws. Paradigm shift!

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#12

Post by peter_d_sherman » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:14 PM UTC

"Every increase in the real wealth of the society, every increase in the quantity of useful labour employed within it, tends indirectly to raise the real rent of land."

-Adam Smith, "The Wealth Of Nations"

Book I, XI. Of the Rent of Land, Conclusion

https://www.bartleby.com/10/111.html

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#13

Post by francisofascii » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:14 PM UTC

ElectronShak wrote: post #4

> “You guys need to take care of it, like ASAP,” he said, lecturing the young couple living in the vehicle. “I’m not going to tow it today, but tomorrow if I come out here and it’s like this, it’s getting towed!” As he delivered the ultimatum, a self-driving car rolled past.

A nice retort would have been, "You guys need to build more affordable housing, like ASAP".

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#14

Post by douglaswlance » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:15 PM UTC

nwsm wrote: post #9

jerkstate wrote: post #7

Startup idea: convert traditional multilevel parking lots in urban centers to RV parks. Run power, water, and sewage to each space. Build a shared gym/kitchen to charge access to. Even install car elevators to really pack ‘em in! You could also lobby for enforcement and fines to go up in your local area to increase your customer base! Not dystopian at all!

I think you just invented apartments, which would need residential zoning, which is already the problem.

Apartments on wheels != traditional apartment.

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#15

Post by douglaswlance » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:16 PM UTC

When full self-driving hits, all of these vehicles will go off and recharge their batteries during the day while people are at work.

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#16

Post by mochomocha » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:22 PM UTC

malms wrote: post #6

PixyMisa wrote: post #2

If only there were some way for people to work together without having to be in the same physical location. Guess it will never happen. Oh well.

If only people would move to other places when there's no space somewhere. Oh well.

No space? Yet I'm driving on 280 every morning and all I see are green fields. Yet 75% of San Francisco land has zoning rules that prevent buildings of more than 2 stories. What you really meant is: no space for you, I got mine

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#17

Post by idlewords » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:22 PM UTC

There's a huge RV park at San Francisco Airport, too, in a lot near I believe the United hangar. Some of the vehicles look like they've been there for decades, and all of them look abandoned. I've often wondered what the story is there.

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#18

Post by hedora » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:23 PM UTC

This article fails to mention that Mountain View has been blocking improved transit to service the office parks in the area for at least a decade.

Starting a private bus service wasn’t Google’s “plan A”. Their preferred approach was to get the city to set up adequate service between the Mountain View train station and surrounding office parks.

Although a bit of new housing is finally going in, it’s clearly too little and too late.

Anyway, needing to ban shanty towns usually means you suck at being mayor (at least in city simulators). Maybe they’ll take the housing and transit shortages more seriously moving forward.

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#19

Post by nstom » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:23 PM UTC

jerkstate wrote: post #7

Startup idea: convert traditional multilevel parking lots in urban centers to RV parks. Run power, water, and sewage to each space. Build a shared gym/kitchen to charge access to. Even install car elevators to really pack ‘em in! You could also lobby for enforcement and fines to go up in your local area to increase your customer base! Not dystopian at all!

That's actually been tried in the 70s, but for various reasons it never really took off: https://99percentinvisible.org/article/mobile-home-skyscrape...

Re: Living In A Van in Google's Backyard

#20

Post by somatic » Tue, May 21, 2019, 2:23 PM UTC

PixyMisa wrote: post #5

VikingCoder wrote: post #3

The community can do something: * Build more housing. The tech companies can do something: * Build offices in more places That's it. That's the whole plan.

Local and state regulations have the housing market locked down. That leaves option B, and I really don't understand why more companies aren't doing that.

We humans are remarkably solipsistic creatures. Why not build more elsewhere? Probably because leadership isn’t feeling the squeeze.