OK hold up, density is good. Let's not do some laundered CA-loves-housing-crunch here.
But yes, the thing needs more entrances, windows, and also the floorspace needs vastly more street interaction.
There is this sick thing where if you compare old and new buildings, and the streetscape is vastly less compact than it used to be. My favorite comparison is in Long Island City:
Now, sure maybe schools aught not to have commerical tennants for some reason (though frankly I think that's kinda romantic/naive) but the density of ammenities should be no less. There should be cafeterias, corner stores, etc., all spilling out onto the street.
Strongly agree. I feel very lucky, personally, for the dorms I had in university that were basically on city streets intermingled with private homes, businesses, and so on. After growing up an incredibly cloistered childhood in an inescapable car suburb, living in walkable (while suburban) Pittsburgh was incredible by comparison and really let me grow into a functional adult if I'm being honest.
But yes, the thing needs more entrances, windows, and also the floorspace needs vastly more street interaction.
There is this sick thing where if you compare old and new buildings, and the streetscape is vastly less compact than it used to be. My favorite comparison is in Long Island City:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7487041,-73.937889,3a,75y,20...
and
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.742877,-73.9540354,3a,75y,76...
Now, sure maybe schools aught not to have commerical tennants for some reason (though frankly I think that's kinda romantic/naive) but the density of ammenities should be no less. There should be cafeterias, corner stores, etc., all spilling out onto the street.
It's not a fortress or mall.