Is this life in the suburbs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is so much wrong with real estate and zoning in this country. There's a lot to find fault with in New Urbanism, but at least they're trying something other than this Sunbelt Levittown madness.

haha - my community was built by levitt here in NoVA.

[Anonymous]

It's basically living in a condo without shared walls and your own garage spot near your unit. Wait a minute, that's starting to sound not so bad....

I had the same thought. I'm not that into house styles, prefer function/good layout over bells and whistles, don't enjoy decorating or antiques, and wouldn't mind this set up if the backyards were bigger, there was a great community center with pool, tennis courts, indoor gym courts, good elementary school and a grocery store, ice cream place, starbucks, and pizza place in walking distance. Throw in a farmer's market, good brunch place and good chinese or thai place and I'm absolutely sold!

[Anonymous]

I call these single-family townhouses.

The big fault with many post 1990 SFH subdivisions (at least IMO) is that so much of the lot is wasted on the front yard which you can't really use easily (always worried the kid's going to run on the street, a ball will get kicked there, etc.) So the lot might say 0.24 acres but your backyard's still miniscule between the size of your house, etc.

Look around in Alexandria, DC, Leesburg, Fredericksburg, Winchester, etc., etc., this style is fairly prevalent in pre-WW2 neighborhoods. Basically it is a house of about any size (I've seen it with 800 sf places and 2500 sf places) on a lot that's under 0.1 acres. Sometimes they will have a one-car driveway, other times not.

[Anonymous]

PP, you're describing the new urbanism concept, which is not at all whatis pictured.

[Anonymous]

There is just something about identical houses on postage stamp lots with just inches between you and your neighbors that makes me break out in hives. But I have no issue with planned communities where things are walkable.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

So the roofs are all the same color, and the lots are small. Big deal. (The latter is a good thing from an environmental perspective; large lots ruin the landscape by taking over more land per person.)

[Anonymous]

Planned communities, they look and function differently than unplanned community growth.
I'd argue that living in the former is a lot less headache, costs and inconveniences than the latter. In many areas (and countries), you don't have a choice though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the roofs are all the same color, and the lots are small. Big deal. (The latter is a good thing from an environmental perspective; large lots ruin the landscape by taking over more land per person.)

what do you consider too big a lot, then? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

yes. that is exactly how my neighborhood looks. I little smaller maybe.

Here is my City meets Suburbs experience - my son has friends from the "city" NW is considered the city right - anyway...

Door bell rings:
Suburbs: Oh wow - your early - come on in.
City: Yea - I was so surprised it only took me 25 mintues to get here and I gave myself an hour. Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were having a party.
Suburbs: Oh no - this is not a party - do you want a glass of wine - these are neighbors. This is x and y and z and a and b and c. They just live around the corner.
City: Oh no I am good. Um - where are the kids - in the basement.
Suburbs: Oh yea the kids - I will text them. They are playing manhunt or capture the flag or something.
City: Outside? I didn't see them.
Suburbs: Yea -- they are down at the field or the woods so I will just text them. Are you sure you don't want a glass of wine.
City: Oh no I'm good I will wait outside - I don't want to interrupt.
Suburbs: Alright, let's go outside they should be here in a few minutes.

Odd silence.... Odd silence... Odd silence

City: Where did you say they were. I think I will get in my car and drive around.
Suburbs: So they are either at the field or the woods but unless you have 4 wheel drive ummmm - gulp wine - they will be here in a sec.
Frantically texting - GET YOUR ARS HOME NOW!

20 kids round the corning running their little ARSes off.

Kid 1: What is the matter? What happened?
Suburbs: Oh CityKids mom is here and she was getting a little worried I misplaced him. (knowing look between kid1 and suburbs)
City: CityKid we need to go NOW. The Suburbs are having a party.
Suburbs: No really they are just neighbors - not party. We were really glad you could join us CityKid. You were a very good addition to the gang.
CityKid: Thanks can I stay, come back, be freeeeed - pleeeeeeeeeease.
Suburbs: Take a look at your schedule you are welcome back any time. Oh yea - don't forget to check for tics!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see neighborhoods like that from the airplane flying into Dulles and get all twitchy.

It's Ashburn!

With palm trees!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes. that is exactly how my neighborhood looks. I little smaller maybe.

Here is my City meets Suburbs experience - my son has friends from the "city" NW is considered the city right - anyway...

Door bell rings:
Suburbs: Oh wow - your early - come on in.
City: Yea - I was so surprised it only took me 25 mintues to get here and I gave myself an hour. Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were having a party.
Suburbs: Oh no - this is not a party - do you want a glass of wine - these are neighbors. This is x and y and z and a and b and c. They just live around the corner.
City: Oh no I am good. Um - where are the kids - in the basement.
Suburbs: Oh yea the kids - I will text them. They are playing manhunt or capture the flag or something.
City: Outside? I didn't see them.
Suburbs: Yea -- they are down at the field or the woods so I will just text them. Are you sure you don't want a glass of wine.
City: Oh no I'm good I will wait outside - I don't want to interrupt.
Suburbs: Alright, let's go outside they should be here in a few minutes.

Odd silence.... Odd silence... Odd silence

City: Where did you say they were. I think I will get in my car and drive around.
Suburbs: So they are either at the field or the woods but unless you have 4 wheel drive ummmm - gulp wine - they will be here in a sec.
Frantically texting - GET YOUR ARS HOME NOW!

20 kids round the corning running their little ARSes off.

Kid 1: What is the matter? What happened?
Suburbs: Oh CityKids mom is here and she was getting a little worried I misplaced him. (knowing look between kid1 and suburbs)
City: CityKid we need to go NOW. The Suburbs are having a party.
Suburbs: No really they are just neighbors - not party. We were really glad you could join us CityKid. You were a very good addition to the gang.
CityKid: Thanks can I stay, come back, be freeeeed - pleeeeeeeeeease.
Suburbs: Take a look at your schedule you are welcome back any time. Oh yea - don't forget to check for tics!

Possibly the strangest thing I've ever resad on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

That is not life in the suburbs
Suburbs is a place where there is land around the house.
And at least 10 feet between the end of the building and the lot boundary

I have a 1/2 acre, big trees, long driveway, house backs to forest. Never hear neighbors and have not heard of any crime in the area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is not life in the suburbs
Suburbs is a place where there is land around the house.
And at least 10 feet between the end of the building and the lot boundary

I have a 1/2 acre, big trees, long driveway, house backs to forest. Never hear neighbors and have not heard of any crime in the area

You live in the sticks.

[Anonymous]

No - she lives in Potomac.

Come on out - visit us. You have to pass our houses to get your kids to the SoccerPlex for their soccer tournament anyway.