3 ms·
American Suburbia should actually look more like the pre-automobile streetcar neighborhoods. That development style is far more sustainable, pleasant/walkable,
by dangus 1y ago
American Suburbia should actually look more like the pre-automobile streetcar neighborhoods. That development style is far more sustainable, pleasant/walkable, reduces car dependency (biggest drag on individual wealth), etc.
I find that Americans want affordable homes but they also have a crazy list of demands that turns all “modest starter homes” into luxury homes by global standards.
The “must-have” checklist gets crazy. I’m not going to share a bathroom, I’m not going to share walls, I need a big yard, and I need a big garage to park my cars because I need to be far away from everyone/everything, I need a separate room for storing all
the stuff I bought from Target and don’t use anymore, I won’t share walls, I won’t share outdoor space, the list goes on.
- roxolotl 1y agoThe thing that sucks about the expectations is that it’s also what the market builds. I’ve been looking with what I think is a reasonable list; 1.5 bath, 3 bedrooms, ideally a living room and dining room but if they are combined or I have to eat in the kitchen I’ll survive, partly finished basement and enough yard space for a 10’x10’ garden. I’d be fine with it being a duplex. But they don’t exist! At least not in my state. Everything is either gigantic, well by my standards, or a condo.
- JKCalhoun 1y agoYeah, builders don't build starter homes any more.