4 ms·
Higher density isn’t intrinsically high density urbanism. That’s a limiting idea. There’s a broad spectrum of density between Montana ruralism and downtown Man
by happytiger 3y ago
Higher density isn’t intrinsically high density urbanism. That’s a limiting idea.
There’s a broad spectrum of density between Montana ruralism and downtown Manhattan, with different thresholds of possibilities at each degree of concentration along the way.
Besides Montana is growing at 1 percent a year on average and that will certainly increase as winters become more mild. I believe it was Idaho, Montana and Florida that saw the highest population growth among U.S. states between 2020 and 2022 as well. If it grows 10 percent a decade it won’t be the rural paradise it is for long.
- falcolas 3y agoTo achieve the generally-considered-ideal "15 minute" urban design without cars or public transit (which is what the parent post is advocating), you absolutely require density higher than "single family separated townhome with a yard". You require shared walls and building up. WRT growth, Montana is roughly the size of Germany, but with 400k residents. It will take some 90+ years at the growth rate of 10% per decade to even break 1m residents, let alone Germany's 84m. That's well beyond my lifespan, though I'll do nothing to discourage the growth - that would be cruel. Even if I don't like living in an urban environment, I won't take that choice away from others.
- happytiger 3y agoLess than half that population lives in rural Montana. Most are in cities.