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I think the main problem with that idea is that the warehouses and lofts of most cities were located in the run down downtown areas and often near the waterfron

I think the main problem with that idea is that the warehouses and lofts of most cities were located in the run down downtown areas and often near the waterfront of the city, as most cities old warehouses were originally used in shipping. Suburbs on the other hand, and especially the ones in concern with this article are in the middle of nowhere. Artists/startups wanted to be located in the city and close to the things they needed because, as with wanting cheap place to live, they didn't have money for cars. The majority of these now abandon suburbs were entirely designed to be used by cars. They are bedroom communities with nothing in or around them but houses, and poorly built houses at that.

jwilliams 18y ago
I think there is a counterpoint to that - in that there are a lot of artistic communities that spring up in unexpected (often rural) areas. I think the issue really is critical mass - Access to the city is great, but I think what is required most of all is access to like-minded people. If you get enough of that going, then the rest will (generally) come. ... All that said - I get your point - even these areas had something going for them (e.g. the environment, surrounds, etc, etc).
- astrec 18y ago
  The Heidelberg School was one such example, albeit from a somewhat different time.
  - jwilliams 18y ago
    Exactly the one I was thinking of :)
    - whatusername 17y ago
      I love the fact that victorian's have just about taken over this conversation.. (Although with population trends, etc - we're not likely to have abandoned suburbs/houses any time soon). (As a point of note - my brother in law - carpenter - is working heaps of overtime at the moment - partly in Marysville, but the rest in the outer-outer-South-East... When the FHOG dissapears, we will see what happens.. On the energy conservation note - Does anyone have some quick tips for how best to utilise / retrofit a water tank? Last winter we filled an (existing) pool with rainwater - and now I need to do something with the pipes...

jwilliams 18y ago

I think there is a counterpoint to that - in that there are a lot of artistic communities that spring up in unexpected (often rural) areas. I think the issue really is critical mass - Access to the city is great, but I think what is required most of all is access to like-minded people. If you get enough of that going, then the rest will (generally) come. ... All that said - I get your point - even these areas had something going for them (e.g. the environment, surrounds, etc, etc).

astrec 18y ago
The Heidelberg School was one such example, albeit from a somewhat different time.
- jwilliams 18y ago
  Exactly the one I was thinking of :)
  - whatusername 17y ago
    I love the fact that victorian's have just about taken over this conversation.. (Although with population trends, etc - we're not likely to have abandoned suburbs/houses any time soon). (As a point of note - my brother in law - carpenter - is working heaps of overtime at the moment - partly in Marysville, but the rest in the outer-outer-South-East... When the FHOG dissapears, we will see what happens.. On the energy conservation note - Does anyone have some quick tips for how best to utilise / retrofit a water tank? Last winter we filled an (existing) pool with rainwater - and now I need to do something with the pipes...