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Could we take matters into own hands and incorporate a new city somewhere from scratch? Or coordinate moving into an existing almost-willing city and take over

Could we take matters into own hands and incorporate a new city somewhere from scratch? Or coordinate moving into an existing almost-willing city and take over the government?

CalRobert 3y ago
I am curious if this could be done with something like California Forever. There are some examples, like Houten in the Netherlands, where the city was planned almost from the ground up with active transport in mind. You also have https://www.bloommerwede.nl/ https://www.bloommerwede.nl/, which is being built completely car-free near the middle of Utrecht.
- krageon 3y ago
  Calling what is essentially Kanaleneiland "near the middle of Utrecht" is pretty disingenuous. There's not a whole lot of room to go further south without ending up in Nieuwegein. That aside, the costs of initiatives like these will be enormous. They need to be financed with (or so projectmanagers tell me) those "XL penthouse" apartments and other larger offerings. There are basically no takers for that, not in the least because they'll be significantly north of 1 million euros. Even the affordable housing is generally pricy (think 350000+) and anything in those price ranges will be in the absolute minority. If there is anything at all around 300000, it will be specifically for a so-called "middle income bracket". This is a very hard to attain bracket unless you are a two-person family with a relatively high but not very high income. For average incomes this bar is very hard to clear. All that to say, it is clearly not made for most people in the country. Aspirational neighbourhoods meant only for rich people are available in many countries (as a specific enclave). It's part of what you pay for in such a location.
  - CalRobert 3y ago
    Ten minute bike ride from Utrecht central seems pretty good to me. And yes, nice things cost money when there's a shortage. The trick is to keep building until there isn't a shortage. If bloom merwede had been available when we moved we might not have overbid on a rental and paid a year of rent up front to get a place in Hilversum (which is much less nice and more car focused) instead, thereby freeing up our home for someone else.
mywittyname 3y ago
This first needs money. And with sufficient attention, the cause can attract culture warriors who weaponize the state bureaucracy against the efforts. See: de facto banning solar power stations in Ohio. So this probably has to happen in a "friendly" state.

Could we take matters into own hands and incorporate a new city somewhere from scratch? Or coordinate moving into an existing almost-willing city and take over the government?

CalRobert 3y ago

I am curious if this could be done with something like California Forever. There are some examples, like Houten in the Netherlands, where the city was planned almost from the ground up with active transport in mind. You also have https://www.bloommerwede.nl/ https://www.bloommerwede.nl/, which is being built completely car-free near the middle of Utrecht.

krageon 3y ago
Calling what is essentially Kanaleneiland "near the middle of Utrecht" is pretty disingenuous. There's not a whole lot of room to go further south without ending up in Nieuwegein. That aside, the costs of initiatives like these will be enormous. They need to be financed with (or so projectmanagers tell me) those "XL penthouse" apartments and other larger offerings. There are basically no takers for that, not in the least because they'll be significantly north of 1 million euros. Even the affordable housing is generally pricy (think 350000+) and anything in those price ranges will be in the absolute minority. If there is anything at all around 300000, it will be specifically for a so-called "middle income bracket". This is a very hard to attain bracket unless you are a two-person family with a relatively high but not very high income. For average incomes this bar is very hard to clear. All that to say, it is clearly not made for most people in the country. Aspirational neighbourhoods meant only for rich people are available in many countries (as a specific enclave). It's part of what you pay for in such a location.
- CalRobert 3y ago
  Ten minute bike ride from Utrecht central seems pretty good to me. And yes, nice things cost money when there's a shortage. The trick is to keep building until there isn't a shortage. If bloom merwede had been available when we moved we might not have overbid on a rental and paid a year of rent up front to get a place in Hilversum (which is much less nice and more car focused) instead, thereby freeing up our home for someone else.

mywittyname 3y ago

This first needs money. And with sufficient attention, the cause can attract culture warriors who weaponize the state bureaucracy against the efforts. See: de facto banning solar power stations in Ohio. So this probably has to happen in a "friendly" state.