Suburbanites: What Would it Take to Entice You to Consider Urban Living? (Pittsburgh: section 8, homes)

[squarian]

And consider a little historical perspective - if the OP's initial concern was increasing the city-core population, that supposes that the city core is stable and attractive to at least some in-comers. A quarter-century ago, increasing Pgh's population wasn't the main concern - it was whether the city would become a hollowed-out post-industrial apocalyptic hell, an "Escape From New York" dystopian nightmare. For all Pgh's problems, that's clearly not going to happen now.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by jay5835

Growing up in NJ, I never dreamed of having a lawn, like the one surrounding our house. It was my job to mow said lawn, since I did it so well. I knew that when I grew up, instead of having a lawn, or even a driver's license, I was going to live in NY and have a doorman. Which I did, both in NY and DC.

LOL, you may be onto something. I grew up in city neighborhoods and when I grew up I became an avid gardener and absolutely had to have dogs. (Although I did spend my entire 20s in a tiny L.A. apartment without either of those things. Had a lot of fun, but one day I found myself really longing for my own trees and gardens. Go figure.)

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Caladium

And, I don't think they need to be competing interests.

Absolutely not. Again, I am probably naturally inclined to this perspective, living in a suburb myself, but I really hope the era of central cities and suburbs often viewing each other as rivals is drawing to a close. There are so many possible areas of cooperation, and so much need for coordination on crucial tasks, and so much unavoidable interconnection anyway, that we denizens of metropolitan areas really should be focusing on working together on these issues.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by jay5835

That was a hell of a story, wasn't it? I thought he died in a fire, though. I guess, nearly decapitated and then fire?

Yes. Two rival porn producers from Virginia came up to NEPA, nearly decapitated him, and then torched his home to cover up the murder. They were fighting over one well-known piece of "talent". I don't recall if they also stole his luxury sportscar or not.

[Denton56]

>>> It WAS possible to excel at my school, but fewer students at my school CHOSE to apply themselves and fewer had supportive parents than at some of the more posh suburban schools. Those of us who WANTED to learn at my school district were NOT shortchanged academically.<<<

MANY parents believe that peer pressure matters, because it does. They would prefer that their children are surrounded by students who want to excel academically. Parents want the peer group to be kids who excel in school, take school seriously, and work hard. THAT's why parents want their kids in the good schools. It's the peer group.

[Sideblinded]

Originally Posted by jay5835

Growing up in NJ, I never dreamed of having a lawn, like the one surrounding our house. It was my job to mow said lawn, since I did it so well. I knew that when I grew up, instead of having a lawn, or even a driver's license, I was going to live in NY and have a doorman. Which I did, both in NY and DC.

I still prefer that kind of living to anything suburban, in spite of liking midcentury modern houses. I would never want to do yard work, and I would resent having to pay someone to do it.

Why would you resent paying someone to do it? Should they just do it for free? Do you tip at restaurants or just stiff them because you resent the fact you have a kitchen and didn't use it? I lived in a house with a PITA large lawn. I was grateful to the people I paid to take care of something I figured out was more work than I was willing to put in.

That is one of the oddest statements I have seen in a long time.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Yes. Two rival porn producers from Virginia came up to NEPA, nearly decapitated him, and then torched his home to cover up the murder. They were fighting over one well-known piece of "talent". I don't recall if they also stole his luxury sportscar or not.

Brent Corrigan was pretty talented. But that whole Poconos story makes him seem ultra-creepy. I don't think I'd want to be alone with him.

[greg42]

Heh, it's funny to read about the lawn care stuff. I grew up with a lawn and did have to mow it. Then when I moved to Pittsburgh it was 12 years of living in apartments that pushed me to the house and wanting more yard rather than less. Hell, with 5000 sq ft lots, I figured I'd end up still hearing my neighbors! This lot is about 13,000 sq ft, nearly 1/3 acre, still less than the 1/2 acre we had growing up. I was even looking forward to mowing the lawn again.

And maybe if I had focused more on getting a FLAT lawn, I wouldn't even have tired of it so much. I really don't mind the mowing part, but that hill in the back is a b**ch.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by Sideblinded

Why would you resent paying someone to do it? Should they just do it for free? Do you tip at restaurants or just stiff them because you resent the fact you have a kitchen and didn't use it? I lived in a house with a PITA large lawn. I was grateful to the people I paid to take care of something I figured out was more work than I was willing to put in.

That is one of the oddest statements I have seen in a long time.

Read more closely. I didn't say I would resent paying someone. I would resent having to pay someone. I'd be angry at me, not at the lawn guy(s).

My solution is just not to have a lawn. I wouldn't stiff anyone. And where you get "bad tipper" out of it, I could not say.

[Sideblinded]

This article has nothing to do with lawncare, (it veers but is relevant) It is thought provoking.

Why Martin Luther King Was Republican - HUMAN EVENTS

I am not cerain how accurate this article is, it has bias. Regardless of political affiliation it seems like things have flipped.