<story><title>Mountain View approves razing rent-controlled units for $1.5M homes</title><url>https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/04/03/mountain-view-approves-razing-rent-controlled-units-for-homes-worth-1-5-million/</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>llbowers</author><text>Just some casual observations from someone who doesn&amp;#x27;t know a lot about city planning, zoning laws, and other things like that but...&lt;p&gt;I have spent a lot of time in various cities in eastern Asia, namely Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei.&lt;p&gt;I was always amazed at how much more efficiently space was utilized. Dense, high-rise housing. Smaller apartments for single occupants. Vending machines and convenience stores near ubiquitous so one did not have to go far for basic necessities.&lt;p&gt;Also, the public transportation was wonderful. Whether subway, taxi, or bus one could get around without any need for a car.&lt;p&gt;I always wonder why our cities can&amp;#x27;t be &amp;quot;denser&amp;quot;. Perhaps we are too used to our cars and driving everywhere? I&amp;#x27;m sure there are a myriad other reasons though.</text></comment>
<story><title>Mountain View approves razing rent-controlled units for $1.5M homes</title><url>https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/04/03/mountain-view-approves-razing-rent-controlled-units-for-homes-worth-1-5-million/</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>usaar333</author><text>Doesn&amp;#x27;t seem they had a lot of choice in the matter:&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Since the project fully complied with the city’s zoning code and met all the application requirements, City Attorney Jannie Quinn told council members Tuesday that it would be “very difficult” to “come up with a rationale to deny the project.”&lt;p&gt;Quinn also informed the council that placing a moratorium on the demolition of rent-controlled apartments could put the city in a legal predicament due to the state’s Ellis Act, which protects landlords who want to leave the rental market.&amp;quot;</text></comment>