[quote=briansd1]There’s a big difference between living in San Diego and in suburbs such as Gainesville, GA or Plano, TX.
Most American grew up not knowing what city living can be.
True, that is a certain grunge to living in the traditional big city and that’s what most people think of when they talk about inconveniences.
But there are opportunities to build new cities, like Downtown San Diego and Downtown LA, Seattle, etc…
There’s an urban higher-density movement out there, not necessarily the traditional city, but a move to higher density. The popularity of The Grove and Americana at Brand with apartments and condo nearby in LA attest to that. Mission Valley could grow into a city.
This is a very complex subject… but give people the options of comfortable city living and I bet the city will win out.
I also don’t agree that women prefer the city. My observation is that women often lead the way to nesting in the suburbs. Women are house buyers in the burbs. Maybe a Realtor can confirm or refute that.[/quote]
I agree that there are many families in the US who either have never been to a big city or were only in one for isolated incidences for a few hours at a time or for school field trips. I don’t agree that ALL Americans are raising their families near a metropolis. Many, many American families are raising children in rural areas surrounding small cities or even small towns.
I agree that there is a movement to higher density in cities. Just look what has been done to dtn SD just in the past decade! When I lived near (less than one mile from) dtn SD, almost no one lived “downtown.” Those that did lived in scattered Victorian-era houses in Little Italy or what is now known as “East Village.” I could count on one hand the actual residential houses located in the downtown business core and they were all zoned commercial (law offices, etc).
If the parking issues (garages/underground pkg) and noise levels (triple-paned windows) are addressed, city living can become much more “comfortable.” There are several grassy areas to walk dogs dtn and most condos/apts have a balcony. The older complexes with ground floor units have a ground-floor patio with an actual garden. In dtn SD, one does not have to walk home carrying groceries if they don’t wish to. Markets in MH are 3 mi away and have free pkg as does the Navy Commissary, just 2 miles away.
With couple and/or parent buyers, I ALSO believe it is the women (wives) who are the driving force in cajoling their spouses to eventually agree to purchase in the far-flung suburbs. If not for this overpowering influence, the men (husbands) would live almost anywhere where they enjoyed their lives.
I’ve seen numerous strollers dtn and just don’t see the problems that others do with it. But I’ve never been one to spend my time in this manner … that is, I’ve only owned a $20 umbrella stroller in the past that got used maybe 2-3 times :=}
This IS a “complex subject” and the city/country preference varies widely by culture and region of the country.
