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Anecdotally, when I lived in an urban condo, half the building was empty-nesters -- couples who raised their kids in the suburbs then moved back to walkable sma
by mhneu 10y ago
Anecdotally, when I lived in an urban condo, half the building was empty-nesters -- couples who raised their kids in the suburbs then moved back to walkable smaller city apartments after the kids left the nest.
The problem demographic is couples with kids. Our urban schools are bad, so they leave the city to find good schools. But people with no kids -- either before children or after they leave for college -- are living in cities.
- otoburb 10y ago>>The problem demographic is couples with kids. Our urban schools are bad, so they leave the city to find good schools. Good urban schools exist, but there aren't enough of them, hence there is intense competition to get into good urban schools. To your point, this then ends up driving more families away from dense urban centers.
- wtbob 10y ago> Good urban schools exist, but there aren't enough of them It's not just that — due to desegregation (itself a good thing!) one can't ensure that one's kids will go to either a good school or one nearby. Parents want the best for their kids, and will do their best to ensure their kids' success (note that Mr. Obama's kids went to Sidwell Friends, not to a public DC school).
- hueving 10y agoIt's not just schools. Public transportation (at least in the US) becomes miserable with several small children. Walking 1 mile single or as a couple is fine, but with toddlers it's an exhausting adventure just to get to the grocery store. High housing costs get even worse when you are paying for 5 people instead of 1 or 2. This multiplication factor also carries over to many other costs so a city block with artisanal restaurants and locally-grown grocery stores just doesn't cut it for family budgets.
- CalRobert 10y agoThe grocery store shouldn't be more than a thousand feet away if it's a city, though. In addition to density, diversity of use is important.