There are factors in real estate that are legal, written in the books for all to see and enforce. And there are factors that concern lifestyle, or how people prefer to live. Take high-density living. Zoning is the big catchword that commentators like to dwell on. Zoning dictates which types of buildings can be built on specific land parcels. Some of the categories are Single-Family, Multi-Family, or Commercial. Of course, this plays into the development of the city. But after it’s already a built space, the impacts matter far less.
Whereas how people live within the rules of a complex is far more present and engaging. Association boards meet regularly, set budgets, and maintain a response to maintenance and complaints. A condo building has more shared walls and spaces than a townhouse. People feel closer to single-family living in a townhouse because their front door opens directly into fresh air rather than into a hallway.
Once a landscape is built, multiple parts of the system are going to be difficult to update and change. Zoning is not the only legal feature with lasting constraints on property.
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