Am I the only one who doesn't like cul de sacs?

[Anonymous]

I live on one but it has a huge space in the middle. Not tight at all. Very few cars ever park in the middle, they park outside the houses along the street just like on any other street.

It is great, the kids can all go out and play, and while I don't know all the neighbors, I do know quite a few.

[Anonymous]

They are nice if you have good neighbors and everyone has a 3 car garage or else it's giant parking circle.

[Anonymous]

No, I don't like them. They are an example of poor urban planning that impedes walkability.

On the plus side, they do keep a lot of assholes enclosed in a tight circle.

[Anonymous]

I love my cul-de-sac. There is little traffic going down my street and my kids are always playing in the cul-de-sac. There is sometimes parking on the street when the neighbors have a party. I don't like my triangular shaped yard (skinning in front, wide in back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate them. I actually refused to buy a house on one.

First of all, they're always filled with a bunch of cars parked on the street.

Second of all, I hate the idea of kids learning to ride their bikes or play hoops in the street.

I know lots of people who live on them, and not one of them have mentioned block parties. I'm inclined to think that, at least in the suburbs, that really doesn't happen as much on people on DCUM like to believe. I'm sure tons of posters will come on and say, "but we have one every month," blah, blah, blah. But as I said, IRL, I know lots of people who live on them, and none of them have ever heard of any block parties happening.

Third thing I hate, is that whenever I see a cul-de-sac, the houses seem to be very close together. I don't know if that's because of their popularity (builders try to fit as many in as possible), but it always seems like you have more neighbors close to you on a cul-de-sac than on a regular street.

Fourth thing, while people say they get less traffic, I've noticed (while visiting friends who live on them) that they get a ton of people who turn in to make a turn and go the other way on the road.

But yeah, most people and real estate agents think they're wonderful. So be it. I also hate neighborhoods that have a lot of them. It doesn't make for ideal traffic flow. And it makes the neighborhood seem disconnected. I guess people like that, but I don't.

Do kids learn to ride bikes in places other than the street?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate them. I actually refused to buy a house on one.

First of all, they're always filled with a bunch of cars parked on the street.

Second of all, I hate the idea of kids learning to ride their bikes or play hoops in the street.

I know lots of people who live on them, and not one of them have mentioned block parties. I'm inclined to think that, at least in the suburbs, that really doesn't happen as much on people on DCUM like to believe. I'm sure tons of posters will come on and say, "but we have one every month," blah, blah, blah. But as I said, IRL, I know lots of people who live on them, and none of them have ever heard of any block parties happening.

Third thing I hate, is that whenever I see a cul-de-sac, the houses seem to be very close together. I don't know if that's because of their popularity (builders try to fit as many in as possible), but it always seems like you have more neighbors close to you on a cul-de-sac than on a regular street.

Fourth thing, while people say they get less traffic, I've noticed (while visiting friends who live on them) that they get a ton of people who turn in to make a turn and go the other way on the road.

But yeah, most people and real estate agents think they're wonderful. So be it. I also hate neighborhoods that have a lot of them. It doesn't make for ideal traffic flow. And it makes the neighborhood seem disconnected. I guess people like that, but I don't.

Do kids learn to ride bikes in places other than the street?

[Anonymous]

We live on a cul de sac about 2 good drives inside the beltway and it's a great place. With GPS so prevalent now only those who live here come down the street and the center of the cul de sac is a wooded garden with benches and cool trees and flowers people have planted. There's a tire swing and benches. Just gorgeous to look at and be around and all the growth cuts the noise from the busy streets around us. We have block parties, and movie watching parties, and cocktails, and card games for the street. And great neighbors. Wouldn't dream of moving away / nor do others. It's rare for a house to go on sale here - when people do sell it's often to a friend or relative without listing. It's that nice here.

[Anonymous]

We live at the end of a cul-de-sac and there is no parking issue. I think this is really only a problem if houses don't have long enough driveways. We have a 2 car garage and a driveway 2-3 cars deep. Same for our neighbors.

[Anonymous]

OP don't you think that it depends on the particular cul(s)-de-sac?

If it has a wide radius, and if the houses have ample garage space and everyone parks in the garage, and if the cul-de-sac is level, and if the houses' back yard space isn't compromised by the large cul-de-sac in the front, it seems like it would be conducive to a nice lifestyle.

We live across the street, catty-corner (sp) from one, and it's really nice for them. However, I know of one that's super-tight, has apartments in it so lots of people, lots of parking there, and a PITA to turn the car around and i think it's awful.

[Anonymous]

Our kids play in the street because we have a small cul de sac and only the neighbors drive in. We have court parties in the summer, and the entire neighborhood gathers in front of our houses. We know our neighbors well. Love it!

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm with you. I hate them and would not buy a house in one!

[Anonymous]

I live in one, and I dont care for it. It's townhouses and we have one car garages and short driveways (many not even a car length long). Parking is awful. It also opens on to a main road, so it can take a while to get out if you need to go left.

If I'd had infinite choice, I'd not have chosen a cul-de-sac, but in my neighborhood garages are rare, so it was having a garage on a cul-de-sac or street parking on other busy streets. We only have one car, somas long as my driveway isnt obstructed, it's not too bad. Also, size, condition, location, and price of the house itself was a factor in a purchasing decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you also not like open floor plans?

OP here. Nope, I love open floor plans.

Ha! I don't like culs-des-sacs (shouldn't both the plural?) or open floor plans, but I do like close-in suburbs. There's a lid for every pot (true for dating and for home ownership, I guess).

[Anonymous]

HATE them. We have owned on one - a nice one - and it absolutely sucks. It is one of those things that looks good on paper, so to speak. No thanks, you can keep it.

Cars everywhere and the neighbors drive like a&&holes - even the nicest neighbors. Our neighbors dog (on leash) almost got hit every other week. Scary!

People do park all over, so your visibility is awful. Things you don't realize until you actually have done it yourself!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you also not like open floor plans?

OP here. Nope, I love open floor plans.

Ha! I don't like culs-des-sacs (shouldn't both the plural?) or open floor plans, but I do like close-in suburbs. There's a lid for every pot (true for dating and for home ownership, I guess).

No. We have been over this. It is culs des sac, like Attorneys General.