Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Sprawl destroys rural areas. It eats up valuable farmland, destroys and fragments wildlife habitat (forests, etc.), drives the price of real estate up forcing long time residents to leave...
Actually, it goes beyond that. At this point, the lack of farmland doesn't seem to be a factor, but look to CA. Areas that were wild 20 years ago are now built up. Now, folks that go out jogging to keep healthy find that very health threatened by the cougars that they've moved in on. And, CA isn't the only place. Build up in an area used by the wildlife, and then complain when you get attacked. Simple answer... Stay out of the area and you won't have the problem. No, that would be too simple. I've driven through a small town in Vermont, and within the city limits, I slowed down to keep from hitting a black bear that was crossing the street. It means that residents must be more cautious so not to get mauled by the bear. The northeast has a cayote that seems to be a cross between a cayote and a wolf. They are larger and more aggressive then their western cousins. And, they are not afraid to attack humans. So, move into their areas of the country, and complain about the doctor bills when you get attacked.
In the area south and west of Chicago, the farmland is being eaten up like wildfire. Look at the really nice looking homes, and the prices folks are paying for bad water. Bad water? Well, ground water moves at a rate of about 3 feet per year. So, the houses have a well that goes down about 120 feet. So, what kind of agri-chemicals are they drinking about 40 years after the field was sprayed? How many years do they have before they start buying bottled water to drink? There are areas in WI, next to and former potato fields that have the wells monitored for aldo-carb. Some of the houses have had to have wells re-drilled to get water that is not tainted. Then, complain about health problems, and an increase in cancer cases. Don't believe that those chemicals may be related to cancer? Remember Viet Nam? Remember "AGENT ORANGE"? A defoliant. A herbicide. Guess what the farmers are spraying on their fields before they plant all that corn. HERBICIDE. Even if it's bio-degradable. What does it degrade into, and how long before those by-products filter down into the water supply?
There are also areas where people are complaining about highway noise. The housing development is being built right next to an interstate highway. Trucks make a lot more noise than cars, and they can be running any time of the day or night. The developers built the homes, and people bought them, only to find that the noise was annoying and made it hard to get to sleep. It would make far more sense to build the industrial areas next to the highways, and have the residential areas start a mile back from the highways. Guess that one would be too simple too, wouldn't it?
It isn't just the lose of farm land and the nation's food supply, but also other factors that point to a short-sighted, narrow minded mentality. Like building a house at the end of the runway of an international airport, then complaining about the planes overhead. Yeah, they've done that too. The planes were there first. They should have known better.
Actually, it goes beyond that. At this point, the lack of farmland doesn't seem to be a factor, but look to CA. Areas that were wild 20 years ago are now built up. Now, folks that go out jogging to keep healthy find that very health threatened by the cougars that they've moved in on. And, CA isn't the only place. Build up in an area used by the wildlife, and then complain when you get attacked. Simple answer... Stay out of the area and you won't have the problem. No, that would be too simple. I've driven through a small town in Vermont, and within the city limits, I slowed down to keep from hitting a black bear that was crossing the street. It means that residents must be more cautious so not to get mauled by the bear. The northeast has a cayote that seems to be a cross between a cayote and a wolf. They are larger and more aggressive then their western cousins. And, they are not afraid to attack humans. So, move into their areas of the country, and complain about the doctor bills when you get attacked.
In the area south and west of Chicago, the farmland is being eaten up like wildfire. Look at the really nice looking homes, and the prices folks are paying for bad water. Bad water? Well, ground water moves at a rate of about 3 feet per year. So, the houses have a well that goes down about 120 feet. So, what kind of agri-chemicals are they drinking about 40 years after the field was sprayed? How many years do they have before they start buying bottled water to drink? There are areas in WI, next to and former potato fields that have the wells monitored for aldo-carb. Some of the houses have had to have wells re-drilled to get water that is not tainted. Then, complain about health problems, and an increase in cancer cases. Don't believe that those chemicals may be related to cancer? Remember Viet Nam? Remember "AGENT ORANGE"? A defoliant. A herbicide. Guess what the farmers are spraying on their fields before they plant all that corn. HERBICIDE. Even if it's bio-degradable. What does it degrade into, and how long before those by-products filter down into the water supply?
There are also areas where people are complaining about highway noise. The housing development is being built right next to an interstate highway. Trucks make a lot more noise than cars, and they can be running any time of the day or night. The developers built the homes, and people bought them, only to find that the noise was annoying and made it hard to get to sleep. It would make far more sense to build the industrial areas next to the highways, and have the residential areas start a mile back from the highways. Guess that one would be too simple too, wouldn't it?
It isn't just the lose of farm land and the nation's food supply, but also other factors that point to a short-sighted, narrow minded mentality. Like building a house at the end of the runway of an international airport, then complaining about the planes overhead. Yeah, they've done that too. The planes were there first. They should have known better.
BUT sprawl has been happening as recent as 50 years!! Is that still the argument on here coming from "sprawlists"? I just don't get why people can't get that sprawl is not good.
Awesome post, btw. Here's something that might inspire some sense.
I've been wondering this too. Especially since, in the not too distant past, people were flocking to surburban/sprawled out areas, away from the urban areas.
IMO, I think it's some kind of leverage used (on here) to bash certain cities....
I think also that some seek to isolate themselves from what is referred to as undesirable elements, typical of inner-city urban areas, especially if a large city begins to bloat and extend its public transportation and developement arms out towards bedroom communities. And I actually do get this. But it's kind of a pointless apprehension because sprawl is part of what can occur when you live near a bigger city.
I think also that some seek to isolate themselves from what is referred to as undesirable elements, typical of inner-city urban areas, especially if a large city begins to bloat and extend its public transportation and developement arms out towards bedroom communities. And I actually do get this. But it's kind of a pointless apprehension because sprawl is part of what can occur when you live near a bigger city.
If you live in a bedroom community near a bigger city, you are sprawl.
One problem we have in the bay area is that the bedroom communities think they need to build their own transit infrastructure. Complete with a separate agency and all. You could easily travel the 12 or so miles from Oakland to SF (let's say the Golden Gate Bridge) and use 4 separate transit agencies. And spend: $10 each way.
Want an argument against the alienation and detachment of suburban sprawl? Instead of hiding out in the remote mountains, or in the desert, or a remote island somewhere, when he wanted to remain unnoticed and anonymous, the most wanted terrorist on Earth hid out in a suburb.
One problem we have in the bay area is that the bedroom communities think they need to build their own transit infrastructure. Complete with a separate agency and all. You could easily travel the 12 or so miles from Oakland to SF (let's say the Golden Gate Bridge) and use 4 separate transit agencies. And spend: $10 each way.
THAT IS WHY transit in LA FAILS!!!!!!!! Too many agencies = TOO MUCH WASTE!!!!!!! bedroom communities DO NOT NEED THEIR OWN TRANSIT!!!! Regional transit is best for bedroom communities not isolated muni transit.
THAT IS WHY transit in LA FAILS!!!!!!!! Too many agencies = TOO MUCH WASTE!!!!!!! bedroom communities DO NOT NEED THEIR OWN TRANSIT!!!! Regional transit is best for bedroom communities not isolated muni transit.
The poster was talking about the bay area, meaning near San Francisco.
The poster was talking about the bay area, meaning near San Francisco.
He is just saying that LA has the same problem as the Bay Area.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
