Why don’t Americans embrace urban living?

[Anonymous]

Most people buy a home based on a few major property value drivers, such as:
Quality and performance of public schools
Easy commutes to office districts
Low crime, high safety
Access to amenities (quick drive or walk to parks, shopping, schools, libraries, doctors, activities).
Not terrible traffic.

The above all drive property value and appreciation, whether you have kids or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For whatever reason, folks in Singapore, London, Hong Kong don’t seem to have these hang-ups about “the neighbors,” “living on top of one another” or “sharing walls”

London is very distinctly zoned, good vs bad neighborhoods. People are ok to live in good ones. US cities aren’t as distinctly zoned generally (with a few exceptions) because “good” neighborhoods are really the ‘burbs.
In Singapore I bet homeless are not allowed to loiter in public spaces
It’s just all very different

London has high density affordable housing in all the best areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the obsession with huge houses 3 miles away from everything. Why not access to parks, trails, restaurants, schools, grocery stores, socializing in coffee shops, biking etc?

The American obsession with SFH is unsustainable environmental, financially (impossible to maintain long exburban roads) and mentally

Ok, suburbanite here. Within 2 miles (in some cases just blocks away) there a highly rated walkable public elementary, coffee and bagel place, parks and playgrounds, bike and walking paths, a major hospital, 50+ places to eat, drink, shop, and socialize. Walk. Bike. Bus. Cars in my garage. All options on the table. I won't go into all the downsides of urban living. The news and social media public safety feeds offer and endless supply.

+1

I’m in Brambleton (Ashburn) and everything you mentioned is within steps of my house. I literally went weeks without stepping foot in my car. These city people are laughable thinking that EVERYTHING we need in the burbs is like a 10 mile drive to anywhere.

Why are city people so focused on us anyway? We don’t care how you live in the city. As someone who lived in NOMA a few years ago, I honestly don’t feel like I’m missing much out here in the burbs. The only thing I miss is not being able to go to a NBA/NHL game as easy anymore.

I have lived in DC for decades and have never ever been to Brambleton. Enough said

[Anonymous]

This whole topic is mostly driven by cost of energy... If we would tax energy (gas, electricity, transportation etc) all the rich people would move into ubran areas and the less fortunate would migrate to suburbia.

DC is perfect example where the city could impose a EZ-Pass toll, lets say $10 for every entry in a private car. This would increase use of public transportation and make it more desirable to live within the city limits. This would again lead to a higher tax base and better schools and services. Just look at the city of Oslo Norway as an example.

[Anonymous]

Sold: property value ^ MD drivers \

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For whatever reason, folks in Singapore, London, Hong Kong don’t seem to have these hang-ups about “the neighbors,” “living on top of one another” or “sharing walls”

Sounds like you’d fit in better there. Enjoy Singapore!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the obsession with huge houses 3 miles away from everything. Why not access to parks, trails, restaurants, schools, grocery stores, socializing in coffee shops, biking etc?

The American obsession with SFH is unsustainable environmental, financially (impossible to maintain long exburban roads) and mentally

We do embrace it, and that's why its so expensive to live in urban cores.

+1. We wanted to live in DC (my husband is from NYC), but we were priced out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the obsession with huge houses 3 miles away from everything. Why not access to parks, trails, restaurants, schools, grocery stores, socializing in coffee shops, biking etc?

The American obsession with SFH is unsustainable environmental, financially (impossible to maintain long exburban roads) and mentally

Ok, suburbanite here. Within 2 miles (in some cases just blocks away) there a highly rated walkable public elementary, coffee and bagel place, parks and playgrounds, bike and walking paths, a major hospital, 50+ places to eat, drink, shop, and socialize. Walk. Bike. Bus. Cars in my garage. All options on the table. I won't go into all the downsides of urban living. The news and social media public safety feeds offer and endless supply.

+1

I’m in Brambleton (Ashburn) and everything you mentioned is within steps of my house. I literally went weeks without stepping foot in my car. These city people are laughable thinking that EVERYTHING we need in the burbs is like a 10 mile drive to anywhere.

Why are city people so focused on us anyway? We don’t care how you live in the city. As someone who lived in NOMA a few years ago, I honestly don’t feel like I’m missing much out here in the burbs. The only thing I miss is not being able to go to a NBA/NHL game as easy anymore.

I have lived in DC for decades and have never ever been to Brambleton. Enough said

Ok…lol. Cool story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole topic is mostly driven by cost of energy... If we would tax energy (gas, electricity, transportation etc) all the rich people would move into ubran areas and the less fortunate would migrate to suburbia.

DC is perfect example where the city could impose a EZ-Pass toll, lets say $10 for every entry in a private car. This would increase use of public transportation and make it more desirable to live within the city limits. This would again lead to a higher tax base and better schools and services. Just look at the city of Oslo Norway as an example.

Are you trying to kill businesses and tourism in the city? Thank god you are not in control of any policy decisions.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s a stage of life thing OP.

In my 20s I loved urban living.
In my 30s- we moved out for the kids. Because of the amenities outside of the city. (More sports and nature!)
Then… we just never wanted to go back. We’re also close enough to the city to Uber in.

But we personally love trees now. Just more trees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is perfect example where the city could impose a EZ-Pass toll, lets say $10 for every entry in a private car. This would increase use of public transportation and make it more desirable to live within the city limits. This would again lead to a higher tax base and better schools and services. Just look at the city of Oslo Norway as an example.

Congestion charges can work well in many cities. Only problem is DC is already struggling to attract commercial tenants who are increasingly choosing to locate offices in NoVA. Applying a fee for entering DC by car would just drive more business growth to NoVA.

[Anonymous]

What are you talking about OP most Americans live in urban areas.


https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural/ua-facts.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For whatever reason, folks in Singapore, London, Hong Kong don’t seem to have these hang-ups about “the neighbors,” “living on top of one another” or “sharing walls”

Sounds like you’d fit in better there. Enjoy Singapore!

Cut it out. Of all the dumb things people say on dcum this must be the dumbest.

It never deterred anyone and it reflect poorly only on the person saying it.

[Anonymous]

This is DCUM and DC, which accounts for only a small fraction of the region’s population or economy, is a mess now. Wanting to avoid DC says little about whether people have urban sensibilities or not.

When people tell you how great is they are usually talking about their neighborhoods in NW that are somewhat suburban in character anyway, and most of us have no interest in their uber-competitiveness and or schools (snotty privates or mediocre publics). Cities in other countries or even other parts of the country typically aren’t so depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the obsession with huge houses 3 miles away from everything. Why not access to parks, trails, restaurants, schools, grocery stores, socializing in coffee shops, biking etc?

The American obsession with SFH is unsustainable environmental, financially (impossible to maintain long exburban roads) and mentally

Ok, suburbanite here. Within 2 miles (in some cases just blocks away) there a highly rated walkable public elementary, coffee and bagel place, parks and playgrounds, bike and walking paths, a major hospital, 50+ places to eat, drink, shop, and socialize. Walk. Bike. Bus. Cars in my garage. All options on the table. I won't go into all the downsides of urban living. The news and social media public safety feeds offer and endless supply.

+1

I’m in Brambleton (Ashburn) and everything you mentioned is within steps of my house. I literally went weeks without stepping foot in my car. These city people are laughable thinking that EVERYTHING we need in the burbs is like a 10 mile drive to anywhere.

Why are city people so focused on us anyway? We don’t care how you live in the city. As someone who lived in NOMA a few years ago, I honestly don’t feel like I’m missing much out here in the burbs. The only thing I miss is not being able to go to a NBA/NHL game as easy anymore.

I have lived in DC for decades and have never ever been to Brambleton. Enough said

Ok…lol. Cool story.

Let’s do a quick poll. How many people living in DC (actually living in DC) have been or desire to go to “Brambleton”?