The beginning of the end for suburbia? (Denver: houses, buy)

[wanttomoveeast]

DA: omg, you mean I should be living in a McMansion? I just have a townhome and live in the burbs. : (

lol

As for me, I can afford it more than downtown. Our payment is steady and regular, vs. my brother's (who lives on the Hill), whose rent keeps going up and up. Then there's parking eek and I've got the two car garage for that! No break ins, no gas stealers (do they do that anymore?)

But yeah, I sort of agree Aztec, there will always be a demand for it. Just like there will always be rich suckers out there. Seems like the people who can't afford suburbia maybe shouldn't have gone there in the first place. I see a lot of people who have several kids, only one person working, and all credit cards maxed. yikes.

hehe, we crossed Katiana!

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by wanttomoveeast

hehe, we crossed Katiana!

LOL! Be back later. I'm going to hop into my (mini) SUV and drive (1 1/4 miles) to the grocery store!

[wanttomoveeast]

Originally Posted by denverian

I used to like driving. Then I drove to and from work in Orange County for 10 years. Now, not so much. I guess I just view it as time wasted, plus it's frustrating. If a train would take me to work, I'd be all over it. As it is, my job is only 9 mi. from home, plus I usually work from home two days per week, so there are days my car doesn't move.

You know, I used to think of driving as this novelty. Still do. I drove downtown today and I am normally on the bus and hoofing it to work. I don't enjoy being crammed next to some nosy body reading my most graphic horror novel (hey serves her right) or having that fat butt take over one-half of my legs, but it's nice not to have to scream at that double-wide, extra long, double cab ford F-10 TRUCK. Plus, my work pays for my eco-pass, valued at $100 something per month.

I think they really need to work on mass transit.

[wanttomoveeast]

Originally Posted by Katiana

LOL! Be back later. I'm going to hop into my (mini) SUV and drive (1 1/4 miles) to the grocery store!

Have fun, but I gotta tell you, I really miss the days when I took the 6 or the 12, got off on Downing and 6th at the Safeway, then walked the few blocks to Speer and Corona. Or those weird nights when I really wanted chips and salsa, so walked a block to Queen Soopers (24 hrs.) to get it.

oh well. I must say, the burb stores are pretty ritzy compared to downtown!

[rybert]

The McMansions DenverAztec is referring to do exist... in abundance. The burbs have layers of waste and vanity. Some just aren't able to afford as big of a cracker-box as others.

[wanttomoveeast]

I know rybert. I should have added (*sarcastic*). I do know where Aztec is coming from. Sometimes I get bored at work. sorry. oh and my place isn't a cracker box, it's an asian paradise. haha

[rybert]

Man... I just got back from dinner.

I think I've gotten all the attitude out of me now.

I work in the Galleria area here in Houston, and all day long I have to watch trust-fund-babies meander around the area with nothing better to do than shop... it really gets me in the wrong mood for my bus-ride home.

I don't think our situation (as Americans) is as awful as I made it to seem earlier. I understand that not all developers are evil and not all tract homes suck... I just hope I see less of it in the future... much less.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by wanttomoveeast

Have fun, but I gotta tell you, I really miss the days when I took the 6 or the 12, got off on Downing and 6th at the Safeway, then walked the few blocks to Speer and Corona. Or those weird nights when I really wanted chips and salsa, so walked a block to Queen Soopers (24 hrs.) to get it.

oh well. I must say, the burb stores are pretty ritzy compared to downtown!

Ya, the Louisville Safeway is a dream store compared to the SW at 26th and Federal, near where we used to live.

[Mikieo415]

I can detect some elitism and jealous attitudes in this thread. The last time that I checked the laws of supply and demand have driven housing in the city (excluding the housing bubble) up. Way up. Have you looked into a downtown condo? How about something in capital hill or around the speer neighborhood? If you want to live in a "good" area of the city you are going to pay for it. If you want to live in Valverde or Montbello you can find a more reasonable price. Compare housing costs of the city to the outlying areas and generally you will find that the money you save in gas is eaten up in a bigger house payment.

I just sit here and laugh and laugh when I read these "pie in the sky" postings about how suburbia will cease to exist. People need a place to live and we as Americans (to the chagrin of many liberal leftists) will not succumb to socialist ideology and live like Europeans live, in high rise government apartments having no yards or personality for that matter. I don't understand why some people are hell bent on trying to make everyone lower their standards of living. Some people are pointing out the vast waste and vanity that exists in the suburbs. Isn't that a bit pejorative? Everybody in the suburbs is bad because they aren't urban like you? Just because someone has a lifestyle that doesn't conform to your "green, eco-friendly" point of view you decry them to be wasteful? And vain? Sounds more like jealousy to me.

We will continue to live in houses outside the city center. We will continue to live in rural areas because not everyone wants to or should have to live in the city. If they can't afford the gas once they move out there, that is their problem. Don't make it yours.

[rkb0305]

So what do you think they're going to do with existing suburbs? Bulldoze them? Don't forget that some people who live in the suburbs work in them too. My husband drives only 3 miles to work. The only reason he doesn't bike is lack of a shower once he gets there. And what is it about suburban "McMansions" as a symbol of greed and waste that is different than a million dollar home in the city? If people have money they will spend it. Wouldn't you?