You might be onto something. Maybe the lack of central planning in US, and most reliance on private developers, prevents the introduction of denser housing.

Not to go full Hausmann (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haussmann's_renovation_of_Pari...) and eminent-domain the half of the city and rebuild a 1/5 of the city in higher density buildings, in 15 years. But we could ramp it up and start with the low hanging fruits, with empty buildings, parking lots, gas stations, etc. Show results. Show the building owners that they could building higher on their lot, do the math for them, stream line the permitting, help with financing.

Here is also pace to consider. We are biological creatures, and we only support change at a certain pace, without going fully stressed.