2 ms·

>> People want to live in suburbs, where their residences are separated from commercial areas. This starves city and town centers, leaving only big businesses t

>> People want to live in suburbs, where their residences are separated from commercial areas. This starves city and town centers, leaving only big businesses that are capable of thriving on high volume sales. What are you supposed to do really? I grew up in an urban environment (NYC) and embraced urban living. The reality was that it wasnt sustainable w/o being a multi-millionaire. I'll give real examples. I take a 20min subway/bus to a store purchase a terracotta planter, or perhaps a box of cat litter. You then have to carry that 5 or 10 pound item. You realize the subway isnt working, today. You need to take an express subway. Now you have to switch trains but you realize the escalator and elevator also isnt working. So you drag it up the stairs, across the tunnel, and back down the other side. You could hitch a ride on a friend's car, but there is congestion pricing, or a $11 toll on the tunnel, and throw in another $40 for parking. These things used to work in the 1990s, also in the 2000s, but eventually things all failed in a big way (and the failure of public transport was a big part of it.) Good luck if you are disabled, or have knee problems, or have a baby+stroller also. I tried really, really hard to live in an urban environment, but it was eventually a failure. I now live in the suburbs. We order cat litter and have it delivered to our doorstep. No, i dont want to live in the suburb. But I cannot afford to live in the city. If I could freely take cabs everywhere like a multi-millionaire I would live in the city. Short of that, i didnt see much option to stay. People say crazy things like "oh you should just bike everywhere." OK, how does my mom with osteoporosis bike? How does a disabled person bike? Where on the bike do you place the 10lb cat litter box? Cat litter is just one aspect.

woodruffw 4y ago
I am very definitely not a multi-millionaire, and I've lived in NYC nearly my entire life. It's a big city and things certainly vary by availability, but there's a pet store 4 blocks from my apartment (in a not especially dense, mostly residential neighborhood). What you're describing is the pathological case. The similar pathological case for the suburbs is a 20 minute trip to Costco, only to get stuck in an extra hour of traffic, do your shopping and return home, only to realize you forgot the one thing you really needed. That, like yours, is a real example (from the few years I spent in college, in a suburban area). (For what it's worth, I agree completely about disabilities, and it's shameful that NYC has continued to ignore basic accessibility needs in the subways. That being said, the NYCT buses are pretty great about accessibility, and serve a corresponding demographic.)
- TuringNYC 4y ago
  >> What you're describing is the pathological case. I have both children and happened to have a knee injury for several years. That turns a huge number of seemingly normal things into "pathological cases." Ever try bringing a stroller up and down a subway stairwell? Ever try bringing a stroller into a usually crowded bus? Ever try literally anything mass transit related with a child or knee injury? I dont think children are that uncommon here. Sure, if I had a full-time nanny that would solve the problem, but then as I said, its all easy with money. Also, not sure if you live in the wealthier areas of NYC (read: those with multiple subways), but things magically become easier and easier in wealthier areas. Now try living in a neighborhood with a single train line. Now see what happens when the train just randomly starts skipping your stop all the time and going express. Poor-people problems. Groceries with a child...not hard. Groceries in the winter with a child? Hard. Groceries in the rain with a child? Hard. Possible, of course, but its also possible to live in a tent in the forest. At some point, practical starts to overtake merely possible. Interestingly in the suburbs, all these things are possible for those on mere mortal salaries. Hence, despite literally having "NYC" in my username I no longer live in NYC. Finally. Suppose I did get a stuck in traffic job for an hour with a baby in tow on the way to Costco...it isnt really the end of the world...you turn on the radio and spend the time. Its not like its freezing and i'm standing on a subway platform praying the next train is not going to skip my stop while my baby cries from weather exposure or while my knee gives in.
yazaddaruvala 4y ago
The reality is all mid-big US cities need: - 100x more livable sqft, so it can be affordable for everyone. - 3000sqft condos that rival lux family homes in the suburbs for space. - All building should become mixed use. Parking underground, retail on street level, offices on the first N floors of the building, and residential higher up for the views. - More vertical green space on the buildings. - More horizontal green space between the buildings. I'm also partial to building walk/bike ways above current roads such that roads are covered / "underground" i.e. don't cause noise or pedestrian deaths. Retail would be located where people walk.

woodruffw 4y ago

I am very definitely not a multi-millionaire, and I've lived in NYC nearly my entire life. It's a big city and things certainly vary by availability, but there's a pet store 4 blocks from my apartment (in a not especially dense, mostly residential neighborhood). What you're describing is the pathological case. The similar pathological case for the suburbs is a 20 minute trip to Costco, only to get stuck in an extra hour of traffic, do your shopping and return home, only to realize you forgot the one thing you really needed. That, like yours, is a real example (from the few years I spent in college, in a suburban area). (For what it's worth, I agree completely about disabilities, and it's shameful that NYC has continued to ignore basic accessibility needs in the subways. That being said, the NYCT buses are pretty great about accessibility, and serve a corresponding demographic.)

TuringNYC 4y ago
>> What you're describing is the pathological case. I have both children and happened to have a knee injury for several years. That turns a huge number of seemingly normal things into "pathological cases." Ever try bringing a stroller up and down a subway stairwell? Ever try bringing a stroller into a usually crowded bus? Ever try literally anything mass transit related with a child or knee injury? I dont think children are that uncommon here. Sure, if I had a full-time nanny that would solve the problem, but then as I said, its all easy with money. Also, not sure if you live in the wealthier areas of NYC (read: those with multiple subways), but things magically become easier and easier in wealthier areas. Now try living in a neighborhood with a single train line. Now see what happens when the train just randomly starts skipping your stop all the time and going express. Poor-people problems. Groceries with a child...not hard. Groceries in the winter with a child? Hard. Groceries in the rain with a child? Hard. Possible, of course, but its also possible to live in a tent in the forest. At some point, practical starts to overtake merely possible. Interestingly in the suburbs, all these things are possible for those on mere mortal salaries. Hence, despite literally having "NYC" in my username I no longer live in NYC. Finally. Suppose I did get a stuck in traffic job for an hour with a baby in tow on the way to Costco...it isnt really the end of the world...you turn on the radio and spend the time. Its not like its freezing and i'm standing on a subway platform praying the next train is not going to skip my stop while my baby cries from weather exposure or while my knee gives in.

yazaddaruvala 4y ago

The reality is all mid-big US cities need: - 100x more livable sqft, so it can be affordable for everyone. - 3000sqft condos that rival lux family homes in the suburbs for space. - All building should become mixed use. Parking underground, retail on street level, offices on the first N floors of the building, and residential higher up for the views. - More vertical green space on the buildings. - More horizontal green space between the buildings. I'm also partial to building walk/bike ways above current roads such that roads are covered / "underground" i.e. don't cause noise or pedestrian deaths. Retail would be located where people walk.