21 ms·
Plenty of Europe is brand new and still high density and walkable. It’s not a historical accident, but an actual urban design preference. I live on the very ed
by dougmwne 4y ago
Plenty of Europe is brand new and still high density and walkable. It’s not a historical accident, but an actual urban design preference.
I live on the very edge of the city. The farms start right after my townhouse. The urban environment stops at my doorstep, but I am fully in the city and have a convenient electric trolley bus line, walkable shops and restaurants and a great bike infrastructure. A new neighborhood of flats is going in, replacing the farms across the street which is about 800 units in 40 densely packed buildings, similar density to the city center. You would have to be in the center of NYC to see that density in the US.
- trilbyglens 4y agoSo much this. I'm american and have been living in Europe for almost 15 years, and it still shocks me how unbelievably poor american cities are, almost universally. The modern trend of "re-densifying" has really only ended up building out load of expensive yuppie bullshit housing that no one will live in past the age of 35, much less raise a family in. I think it's safe to say that city planners in the US just don't really get it.
- dougmwne 4y agoNo kidding. Safe walkability in the US is a premium luxury good. If you want to raise a family in a nice walkable neighborhood, basically anywhere in the country, expect to pay exorbitant housing prices. That same neighborhood in the EU would be a dime a dozen. Small Eastern European cities have better urban design than the US capital or anywhere else.