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> We've observed that this becomes unsafe in places with high density populations, so lets prevent high density housing to maintain that lifestyle This is a ge
by bastawhiz 7y ago
> We've observed that this becomes unsafe in places with high density populations, so lets prevent high density housing to maintain that lifestyle
This is a generalization that finds its roots in "white flight", which was itself driven by racism and fear mongering and the side effects of redlining and mortgage discrimination. Suburbs as we know them today didn't exist a hundred years ago. And in fact, perpetuating this belief drives more folks with money/privilege/economic mobility away from cities, increasing economic hardship (and in turn, crime) in the areas they leave.
You invalidate your own point. The south side of Chicago is not a place many people would consider safe, and yet it has a huge amount of single family units. "this becomes unsafe in places with high density populations" really means "this becomes unsafe in places with lots of poor people" or "this becomes unsafe in places with lots of people who look different from me".
- Misdicorl 7y agoCan this really be tied to "white flight"? I think you make a compelling point, but white flight also happens to suburbs- which I guess is also part of your point. I don't know the reasons and history of suburb development. It seems to me that it should have a lot to do with the commoditization of fast travel costs, and its simply that rich white people were first able to take advantage. If socioeconomic status weren't so linked to race (good lord maybe this can happen in my lifetime), would people still want single family housing neighborhoods? I think the answer is yes. They have some real advantages over living in the city or in true rural localities.
- bastawhiz 7y agoThere's a difference between "moving to a single family home" and "preventing my neighborhood from becoming high density". I don't care how many people live in SFUs so long as it's not illegal to build higher density buildings.
- Misdicorl 7y agoBut I think there are rational, non-racist reasons to want to prevent your neighborhood from becoming high density.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- Misdicorl 7y agoSeparate response for South Chicago. > You invalidate your own point. The south side of Chicago is not a place many people would consider safe, I'm not sure this invalidates my point, I just chose a poor example. Switch it to Jamaica Plain in Boston and I think my point holds.