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This was pulled from the latest Census statistics. (Thanks to Phillip Reese from the Bee)
Watching the burbs grow as they have is kind of like watching everyone head into a restaurant that you know serves really bad food that will make them all sick, they are all excited about it, but have no idea what it’s doing to them. The more people that go in, the more they all think it’s going to be good and it just makes the whole thing worse to watch.
Levi
7 responses so far ↓
1 Brody // Sep 30, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I like my suburbs. I’ve adapted to the food and it’s better for my kids. And I work from home so I use no gas.
2 Steve // Oct 1, 2008 at 4:43 am
Interesting data. An important part of this discussion is the privilege many people have to live in “cool” parts of inner-cities. But for those who are on the economic outskirts, whose communities are plagued by violence and drugs, moving to areas outside of the inner urban core can lead to a higher quality of living.
I recently stumbled upon a blog about Oak Park and the blogger talked about things Oak Park could benefit from, such as boutiques and cafes. That would be great for the middle-upper class residents, not so great for those who need work (and something tells me that the vibe of a young guy from the ghetto wouldn’t connect in a boutique selling dog sweaters). As we think about ways of bringing people back into the core and dissuading folks from suburbia living, job creation and equitable access to education ought to be at the forefront.
3 Brody // Oct 1, 2008 at 7:57 am
Great argument Steve. I agree.
How does “Joe Suburb” afford a “cool”, safe, inner city house, when it’s more realistic to pay half of that price and have a third of an acre somewhere and not worry about that crime, drugs and violence?
4 AJ // Oct 1, 2008 at 3:08 pm
You have to worry about crime everywhere unfortunately. I have some friends that played the drive until you qualify home buying game and ended up near Yuba City and now spend hundreds of dollars and lots of time commuting to Sacramento. So, similar overall cost of living if you include transportation and housing together except that they lose all of that time as well.
5 Brian Evans // Oct 1, 2008 at 4:34 pm
AJ
Spoken like a true Californian. Most people out there act like the country revolves around them.
I might have to worry about crime everywhere, it’s a lot less where I live (in the suburbs) than in Del Paso Heights which happens to be the only place I would be able to afford in near the city.
6 Brian Evans // Oct 1, 2008 at 4:38 pm
And as far as commuting, I don’t. I work from home and don’t use much gas. Now, you might say “wouldn’t it be great if everyone could work from home and not have to commute anywhere, but that’s a little unrealistic” to which I might reply, “wouldn’t it be great if everyone could afford to live in a $500,000 / 900 square foot LJ Urban house, but that’s a little unrealistic”.
7 micah // Oct 1, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I like that we are getting some real discourse here!
Steve - Wouldn’t the boutiques and cafe’s provide jobs for the neighborhood thereby keeping people in the neighborhood?
Brody - I think the point of the post is that 1/3 acre yards are not sustainable in the long run for our society.
AJ - You are right people give up a lot to driving time.
Brian Evans - Working from home is increasingly possible for more people and is definitely cool if you can do it. I can’t. By the way our 1120 SF 2 Bedroom 2 Bath can be purchased for below $300,000 at the Good project, and you get your own yard, a built in park, the river out the back door, and you can walk to Old Sac in 10 minutes or less.
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