The beginning of the end for suburbia? (Denver, Boulder: house, construction)

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by 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?

I work 4 1/2 miles from our home, DH works 6 miles away. You can't get a whole lot closer than that with the work we do. This isn't 1950. There are job centers in the burbs. And yeah, what about those million dollar mansions in the city? "That's different"?

[rybert]

The suburb is not long for this world. It simply will not exist in the form we now know it in. Our system will not be able to function in a world with dwindling energy supplies. Yes, some form of the burb will exist, but it will be more akin to an early 1900's village than the monsters we have created in our recent history.

As far as waste and vanity go... yeah... it's disgusting down here.

[mczabe]

Wow, some people are downright giddy over the idea of the suburb disappearing. Why on earth would you wish for the demise of any safe, happy place where people live?

I understand the issues. I myself am crossing off some lovely exburbs from my shopping area because of them. I just don't find any joy in it.

[ladyfish]

I think they just need to really, really work on the light rail system here. The few lines they have really aren't enough. I think they need to install it next to every highway that extends out -- down 285, up north on I-25, etc. Nothing is going to happen to the suburbs. So many people live in one suburb and work in the same or another suburb nowadays. The western suburbs of Denver are also in a good position because of their proximity to the mountains and the activities that so many people here in CO do. If you live between the mountains and the city and go to both often, you're saving more money than living out east. And many people are forced out of the city by the high costs of living there.

The bus down Kipling only comes once an hour. I'd TOTALLY use it more often, but if it's early once, I get stuck in the sun with a toddler for an hour. Not fun. I think if they'd up the bus frequency, more people would ride ... if light rail went out here, we'd never have to use our car (except when driving to the mountains) ...

[Charles]

What happens if the businesses (continue to) move to the suburbs? I wonder if most people don't commute that far anyway. Might it be the exception that commutes from far flung suburbs to the central core?

If heating costs rise, are people going to be cold? Or, are they going to have one less premium TV package, one less daily latte, one less ski trip, one less Bronco game, a new car every five years instead of every three years, Goodwill instead of ...hmmm, where do people buy clothes besides Goodwill? I don't know.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by mczabe

Wow, some people are downright giddy over the idea of the suburb disappearing. Why on earth would you wish for the demise of any safe, happy place where people live?

I understand the issues. I myself am crossing off some lovely exburbs from my shopping area because of them. I just don't find any joy in it.

Yeah I just don't get the drive some people have to force everyone into high density urban housing. One big thing that's going to keep people out of the inner city is the schools. Denver itself is mostly low scoring while the closer you get to 470, the better they get. Unless and until that changes, most people with kids are going to live where the schools are decent even if it means spending lots of money on gas to get to work.

School scores: Colorado School Performance Maps

[Noahma]

ya know, I am quite busy right now designing theses so called "Mcmansions" guess where the new builds are going? lol.

the ones going up within the past 10 years are not the ones that went up in past times. The clients are getting into the "green" design, yes you can design a 6000 sqft house to be more efficient than the cracker box homes built in the 20's that are stuffed into the city like sardines. I have several designs on my desk right now for clients that are 100% energy independent, they are equipped with enough solar panels to SELL electricity back to the grid. That could not happen in Denver due to the amount of shadow that is cast back on the houses that are 2.5' from the neighbors houses. People WILL still live in the suburbs and are still building out here.

living in the city does not mean you are automatically green, most of the houses built from the late 1800's to the 1960's had Newspaper insulation, or none at all, they had cloth covered aluminum electrical wiring and if they were built as boats they would sink like a rock due to the infiltration. Far from the "green" that some would make you think they were.

[mczabe]

Originally Posted by Noahma

ya know, I am quite busy right now designing theses so called "Mcmansions" guess where the new builds are going? lol.

the ones going up within the past 10 years are not the ones that went up in past times. The clients are getting into the "green" design, yes you can design a 6000 sqft house to be more efficient than the cracker box homes built in the 20's that are stuffed into the city like sardines. I have several designs on my desk right now for clients that are 100% energy independent, they are equipped with enough solar panels to SELL electricity back to the grid. That could not happen in Denver due to the amount of shadow that is cast back on the houses that are 2.5' from the neighbors houses. People WILL still live in the suburbs and are still building out here.

living in the city does not mean you are automatically green, most of the houses built from the late 1800's to the 1960's had Newspaper insulation, or none at all, they had cloth covered aluminum electrical wiring and if they were built as boats they would sink like a rock due to the infiltration. Far from the "green" that some would make you think they were.

Sooo...where ya building these??? I gotta get me some of that!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by mczabe

Sooo...where ya building these??? I gotta get me some of that!

Are you prepared for a return on investment of like 20 years or so?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Charles

Are you prepared for a return on investment of like 20 years or so?

Yeah that's always the rub with most "green" technology. I'd love to power my house solely with solar panels, but the idea of spending $20k to save $100/mo isn't too appealing. It'll be great when the prices come down though.