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In my view, “suburbia” is any region dominated by single-family houses (or possibly duplexes, in poorer or older areas) on individual lots. These could be comparatively high-density (5000 ft^2 lots) or sparse (up to 1 acre or so). There might be condos, townhouses or apartment-houses here and there, but the cultural self-identification of the community is that of single-family houses with owner-occupants.
By this definition, a place with row upon row of 9-story apartment houses isn’t suburbia, even if the area is predominantly residential. A place with shoulder-to-shoulder single family houses (which then come to resemble townhouses) also isn’t really suburban.
So in essence, suburb = frequent lawn-mowing by owner-occupants.
At the opposite extreme, once the land associated with the house exceeds around 1 acre, I’d call it exurban instead of suburban.
Come to my suburb - no corporations, plenty of mom n pop stores, footpaths and sidewalks, cycle paths, butchers and bakers (real bakers - bake on the premises), street cafes, a cinema, a theater, and houses dating from the late 1700s through to today. Plus more actaul community than you can shake a stick at, rather than the fleeting transient "community" I always saw in the city (in which I lived for 40 years).
I suppose ignorance really is a sort of bliss.
In addition, train suburbs pre-date streetcar suburbs as a phenomenon. So at least say "train & streetcar suburbs", not just the latter.
OK, my bad, and also, how old is your suburb (is it more like a streetcar era suburb (which it sounds like)), or a post WWII Suburb.
Also, for goodness sake!! YES I know that there are plenty of historic suburbs (with more of a town feel and a true community). Also, from the sound of it, it sounds like wherever you are isn't exactly the type of suburb I'm complaining about, to get one thing clear, I DO agree that plenty of these suburbs, especially this sort of town oriented suburb, such as that in Philly, with more of an walkable layout have a great sense of community. Sadly though, the majority of modern era suburbs (postmodern suburbs), aren't exactly like this, and tend to sprawl with relatively identical tract houses, as opposed to the more compact town oriented suburbs in places like Philadelphia.
In my view, “suburbia†is any region dominated by single-family houses (or possibly duplexes, in poorer or older areas) on individual lots. These could be comparatively high-density (5000 ft^2 lots) or sparse (up to 1 acre or so). There might be condos, townhouses or apartment-houses here and there, but the cultural self-identification of the community is that of single-family houses with owner-occupants.
By this definition, a place with row upon row of 9-story apartment houses isn’t suburbia, even if the area is predominantly residential. A place with shoulder-to-shoulder single family houses (which then come to resemble townhouses) also isn’t really suburban.
So in essence, suburb = frequent lawn-mowing by owner-occupants.
At the opposite extreme, once the land associated with the house exceeds around 1 acre, I’d call it exurban instead of suburban.
So which police force should the occupants of the 9 story apt. house call if they need help and the 9 story building is outside the city limits? Where should the kids in the sf houses go to school if they live inside the city limits? To whom should everyone pay taxes, does it go according to "form", or do they pay taxes where they live?
So which police force should the occupants of the 9 story apt. house call if they need help and the 9 story building is outside the city limits? Where should the kids in the sf houses go to school if they live inside the city limits? To whom should everyone pay taxes, does it go according to "form", or do they pay taxes where they live?
To me suburb means it's just not part of the major city. Not all suburbs are ritzy paradises full of high income earners. Some are middle class havens and some are just extensions of tha hood, especially some near the largest cities.
"Suburb" usually means a town or development that picks and chooses what it will allow within its limits. For example: no factories allowed but gleaming corporate offices OK, no housing under $300K, no dance clubs or questionable entertainment venues. Of course there are many exceptions. Another rule of thumb is within 100 miles of center city with population below P*(100-m)/100, where P is the population of the central city, m is miles from central business district of that city. Also, a suburb may not have its own network TV station.
Sure I do. I was just posing the questions to someone who thinks that city and suburbs can be determined by the type of housing. Whether you live in a city or suburb is determined by the city limits.
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