Comments on: The coming suburban slums. http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:14:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Waldo Jaquith http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19889 Waldo Jaquith Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:18:37 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19889 Why, Christine, I'm a little surprised. :) I was reading SWPL a few days ago and specifically thought how much you'd probably hate it. I do love me some white people jokes. :) Why, Christine, I’m a little surprised. :) I was reading SWPL a few days ago and specifically thought how much you’d probably hate it. I do love me some white people jokes. :)

]]> By: ChrEliz http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19888 ChrEliz Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:04:55 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19888 First, my serious response: I never thought about this before, but as soon as I read it, I totally agreed. Wow. Geez. Second, the next thing I thought after realizing that is that "subdivisions" AND "hating subdivisions" both need to be added as entries on the blog *Stuff White People Like*. Waldo, have you seen that blog yet? It's hysterical and I think you'll enjoy it (if I'm reading you right.) I'll be curious to hear what you think. Sorry to stray from the topic, but I just had to mention this. http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com Cheers, Christine First, my serious response: I never thought about this before, but as soon as I read it, I totally agreed. Wow. Geez.

Second, the next thing I thought after realizing that is that “subdivisions” AND “hating subdivisions” both need to be added as entries on the blog *Stuff White People Like*. Waldo, have you seen that blog yet? It’s hysterical and I think you’ll enjoy it (if I’m reading you right.) I’ll be curious to hear what you think.

Sorry to stray from the topic, but I just had to mention this.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com

Cheers,
Christine

]]> By: Waldo Jaquith http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19877 Waldo Jaquith Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:10:15 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19877 I'm with you, Jim -- the statistics were really interesting. I’m with you, Jim — the statistics were really interesting.

]]> By: Jeannine http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19876 Jeannine Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:58:29 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19876 I shared this with some friends who are scattered about and asked for their thoughts. The ones who live in Memphis, Atlanta, and Denver said the article is dead on. One guy living outside of Atlanta wrote "In certain areas around me in Gwinnett, there'll be 20 painters vans and about 30 people living in a house that used to be considered nice." Another guy, an urban planner in Oregon, said he was giving copies of the article to everyone on his city's planning commission. I shared this with some friends who are scattered about and asked for their thoughts. The ones who live in Memphis, Atlanta, and Denver said the article is dead on. One guy living outside of Atlanta wrote “In certain areas around me in Gwinnett, there’ll be 20 painters vans and about 30 people living in a house that used to be considered nice.” Another guy, an urban planner in Oregon, said he was giving copies of the article to everyone on his city’s planning commission.

]]> By: Bill Kuster http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19875 Bill Kuster Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:40:17 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19875 3 Words: West Broad Village 3 Words: West Broad Village

]]> By: Jim Schuyler http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19874 Jim Schuyler Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:56:56 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19874 Waldo: Thanks for the link to that thought-provoking story. I was wondering when someone might analyze the impact on the community of foreclosure and vacant homes in the suburbs. I'm less confident on the move back to the cities--I want to see more numbers and fewer anecdotal stories--but the projection that by 2025 we will have as many single-person households as families with children is most intriguing. Maybe there is hope for our cities yet! Waldo: Thanks for the link to that thought-provoking story. I was wondering when someone might analyze the impact on the community of foreclosure and vacant homes in the suburbs. I’m less confident on the move back to the cities–I want to see more numbers and fewer anecdotal stories–but the projection that by 2025 we will have as many single-person households as families with children is most intriguing. Maybe there is hope for our cities yet!

]]> By: Katey http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19872 Katey Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:38:02 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19872 My husband and I first noticed this phenomenon when we were living in the D.C. Area. Many of the close-in suburbs had already begun the transformation into what we called "ghettoburbs". Decaying strip shopping centers, ugly, crumbling residential architecture (that stood little chance of having the charms that encourage renovation of older urban homes) and once shiny and hip malls now full of vacant spaces and dollar stores. People who have lived in the Richmond area for awhile can take a drive out Midlothian Turnpike and see the spreading decay in action. Anyone remember Cloverleaf Mall? Midlothian Cinemas? :) My husband and I first noticed this phenomenon when we were living in the D.C. Area. Many of the close-in suburbs had already begun the transformation into what we called “ghettoburbs”. Decaying strip shopping centers, ugly, crumbling residential architecture (that stood little chance of having the charms that encourage renovation of older urban homes) and once shiny and hip malls now full of vacant spaces and dollar stores. People who have lived in the Richmond area for awhile can take a drive out Midlothian Turnpike and see the spreading decay in action. Anyone remember Cloverleaf Mall? Midlothian Cinemas? :)

]]> By: David Brown http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19871 David Brown Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:56:38 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19871 Chris Leinberger has been a consultant to Martha Jefferson Hospital on their redevelopment, and gave a public presentation on MJH last year. Chris Leinberger has been a consultant to Martha Jefferson Hospital on their redevelopment, and gave a public presentation on MJH last year.

]]> By: Cari http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19870 Cari Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:34:14 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19870 This article definitely rings true for me. I, and several of my friends in their 20s and 30s, choose to live in the city and commute to the suburbs. My commute can be nearly an hour on public transportation, but it's worth it to live in Chicago. I have a hard time imagining why people without kids would choose to live in the suburbs and commute to the city. I mean, it's Chicago! Who wouldn't want to live in the middle of it all. This article definitely rings true for me. I, and several of my friends in their 20s and 30s, choose to live in the city and commute to the suburbs. My commute can be nearly an hour on public transportation, but it’s worth it to live in Chicago. I have a hard time imagining why people without kids would choose to live in the suburbs and commute to the city. I mean, it’s Chicago! Who wouldn’t want to live in the middle of it all.

]]> By: Kathy http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19869 Kathy Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:09:36 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19869 Have you guys been on Commonwealth Drive lately? Lock you doors and watch out for bullets. The reverse flight back into the City is only going to get faster with gas prices going up Have you guys been on Commonwealth Drive lately? Lock you doors and watch out for bullets. The reverse flight back into the City is only going to get faster with gas prices going up

]]> By: Jon http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19868 Jon Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:45:52 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19868 It's an attention-grabbing headline, but I seriously doubt suburban slums are or will continue to be anything more than statistical outliers -- assuming, of course, we don't arrive at some sort of post-apocalyptic Max Max future for other reasons. :) It’s an attention-grabbing headline, but I seriously doubt suburban slums are or will continue to be anything more than statistical outliers — assuming, of course, we don’t arrive at some sort of post-apocalyptic Max Max future for other reasons. :)

]]> By: Mark Brooks http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19867 Mark Brooks Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:36:46 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19867 In the reinvigoration of Denver, the downtown area underwent an awakening. Even before that, the suburbs of the 50's and 60's were turning into slums. I know people who had real estate in or near downtown Denver since the 60's waiting for it to come around. I used to live about a half mile from work, I could walk or ride a bike. Of course now, my work is in the living room. And that is just a short commute to the kitchen. In the reinvigoration of Denver, the downtown area underwent an awakening. Even before that, the suburbs of the 50’s and 60’s were turning into slums.

I know people who had real estate in or near downtown Denver since the 60’s waiting for it to come around.

I used to live about a half mile from work, I could walk or ride a bike. Of course now, my work is in the living room. And that is just a short commute to the kitchen.

]]> By: Jeff Uphoff http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19866 Jeff Uphoff Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:04:01 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19866 But I love commuting! I commute all the way down my hallway and then down the stairs! But I love commuting! I commute all the way down my hallway and then down the stairs!

]]> By: patience http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19865 patience Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:14:12 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19865 I read an article a while back about how it's turning into a privilege to live in the city, or close to one's work, and that living in the suburbs and commuting from afar is the new slum lifestyle. While I'm glad that more people are realizing the sense of living in urban centers (and also how that life is more environmentally friendly), the sheer waste of all those McMansions is depressing. P.S. The comment you left on my site made me laugh out loud. Nuclear option indeed! I read an article a while back about how it’s turning into a privilege to live in the city, or close to one’s work, and that living in the suburbs and commuting from afar is the new slum lifestyle. While I’m glad that more people are realizing the sense of living in urban centers (and also how that life is more environmentally friendly), the sheer waste of all those McMansions is depressing.
P.S. The comment you left on my site made me laugh out loud. Nuclear option indeed!

]]> By: Terry http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19864 Terry Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:09:56 +0000 http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2008/02/suburban-slums/#comment-19864 I've been saying this for years. The government needs to get a hold on the massive sprawl before it's too late. I’ve been saying this for years. The government needs to get a hold on the massive sprawl before it’s too late.

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