Suburbia, the next slum?

[otters21]

Originally Posted by TDE

good thread, same thing is happening across the midwest. detroit was 1st, i wouldnt be suprised if ohio and indiana are next.

Yeah you have many good points. I live in the Columbus Ohio area and the Morse Road and the Dublin-Granville Rd. area just keeps getting worse and worse. Those areas have very suburban looking housing stock with the houses are built in the 1960s or newer.

[BRU67]

Germane article on this topic. Figured I'd post it here versus starting a new thread...

In collar counties, subdivision development skids to a halt
December 15, 2009

BY DAVID ROEDER AND DAVE GATHMAN

Urban sprawl has been arrested. While it languishes, huge tracts in the collar counties will remain open for years, mostly as cropland.

Housing on the urban fringe already was a suspect market when the credit crisis hit in 2008. Job losses and commuters' reactions to $4-a-gallon gas doomed exurban home sales.

***

Hovany said that when housing recovers, an emerging generation of buyers will choose smaller and cheaper products that are closer to job centers.

"Prices being equal, buyers would rather take a closer-in town house than commute," he said.

In collar counties, subdivision development skids to a halt :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business

[knitgirl]

It's about time! I live in Elgin, I hate to see all that development west of us. Northern IL has some of the best farmland in the world.

[deechee]

Originally Posted by BRU67

Germane article on this topic. Figured I'd post it here versus starting a new thread...

In collar counties, subdivision development skids to a halt
December 15, 2009

BY DAVID ROEDER AND DAVE GATHMAN

Urban sprawl has been arrested. While it languishes, huge tracts in the collar counties will remain open for years, mostly as cropland.

Housing on the urban fringe already was a suspect market when the credit crisis hit in 2008. Job losses and commuters' reactions to $4-a-gallon gas doomed exurban home sales.

***

Hovany said that when housing recovers, an emerging generation of buyers will choose smaller and cheaper products that are closer to job centers.

"Prices being equal, buyers would rather take a closer-in town house than commute," he said.

In collar counties, subdivision development skids to a halt :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business

I wouldn't want to live 60-70+ miles away from the main city...I mean that's ridiculous. If I can't find a job near or in the city, then it's time for me to move in with a relative. It makes no sense to travel 1-1 1/2 hours to go to a job when you could just learn to live around people who are different from you and save ton$ on ga$. (like I have)

I can't tell you how easy it is for me to get to the city from here. Now getting to the city from say, Hampshire or Newark? Not a commute I would be willing to have. Just to live in a homogenous community, or to live in a "fancy" new home? Please.

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by knitgirl

It's about time! I live in Elgin, I hate to see all that development west of us. Northern IL has some of the best farmland in the world.

Originally Posted by deechee

I wouldn't want to live 60-70+ miles away from the main city...I mean that's ridiculous. If I can't find a job near or in the city, then it's time for me to move in with a relative. It makes no sense to travel 1-1 1/2 hours to go to a job when you could just learn to live around people who are different from you and save ton$ on ga$. (like I have)

I can't tell you how easy it is for me to get to the city from here. Now getting to the city from say, Hampshire or Newark? Not a commute I would be willing to have. Just to live in a homogenous community, or to live in a "fancy" new home? Please.

My parents live just north of Elgin, in Carpentersville. To me, that seems sooooo far away from Chicago. They've driven like madmen and gotten to the loop in 50 minutes, but that is with all the best possible conditions. Luckily for them, they work in one of the many numerous industrial parks in the area.

Honestly, what drew them there was the cookie cutter life of big housing. They were able to get almost 4000 sq. ft. for about $317K. I'll never understand the allure of big housing in the (seemingly) middle of nowhere, but if you like it, cool.

I asked them if they would commute if they ever had to move their jobs to Chicago, and they said "yes, of course." To me, that is absolutely crazy.

I see my life full of opportunity costs. If I spend an extra 90 minutes a day driving to and from a job, that is 90 minutes I could have spent reading, sleeping or playing with my son.

[billiken]

Originally Posted by MannheimMadman

I see my life full of opportunity costs. If I spend an extra 90 minutes a day driving to and from a job, that is 90 minutes I could have spent reading, sleeping or playing with my son.

100% agreed.