Phoenix metro is getting too big IMO (Chandler: cheap house, neighborhoods)

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by asufan

Thanks, my undergraduate degree was in Urban Planning/Development, I know all about cities. I'm still not in any hurry to get on a bus and if gas goes to $10/gallon that is what I will pay

Maybe you will pay it, but many won't be able to, and then boom goes the economy. The median wage of $27k/year is not enough to cover gasoline over $6/gallon let alone $10

And why do you keep going to bus? I prefer rail transit myself

[asufan]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Maybe you will pay it, but many won't be able to, and then boom goes the economy. The median wage of $27k/year is not enough to cover gasoline over $6/gallon let alone $10

And why do you keep going to bus? I prefer rail transit myself

I don't see gas realistically going anywhere near $10 anytime soon, have you followed commodities prices? At least make your scare tactics realistic. If you think it will, there's some investments you can make now to more than offset the piddly little gas price increase

[Valley Native]

If somebody prefers to live in a box of stucco with a pile of crushed rocks for a yard in a sprawling suburban development, that's fine ... however, that kind of lifestyle doesn't appeal to everybody. The main thing that bothers me about suburban/exurban sprawl is the notion that it's cheaper living, when that's not necessarily the case.

Any way you look at it, we all end up paying for outward sprawl via our taxes in the form of more freeways, streets, sewer lines, public schools, etc. In the long run, it's actually cheaper to build in a more established area where the infrastructure already exists. The free market and individuals should decide what kind of housing is best, so long as everybody else's tax money isn't supporting their lifestyles.

[AZ_Rookie]

Originally Posted by asufan

Thanks, my undergraduate degree was in Urban Planning/Development, I know all about cities. I'm still not in any hurry to get on a bus and if gas goes to $10/gallon that is what I will pay

He'll still insist he's right and you're wrong... And despite the world around him moving on - he'll never stop the feet stomping...

Anyway - as the rest of us rejoice in the fact that we have choices, some will go to bed bitter.

[AZ_Rookie]

Originally Posted by asufan

I don't see gas realistically going anywhere near $10 anytime soon, have you followed commodities prices? At least make your scare tactics realistic. If you think it will, there's some investments you can make now to more than offset the piddly little gas price increase

He doesn't understand what drives the price of fuel (or housing for that matter)... But he'll insist he does.

You make a good point about "investments"... If there was any merit to Firebird's theory - it would take a modest investment to see huge returns... Most people understand oil prices aren't driven by urban development, so he'd be in the hole... But something tells me even he knows it's all BS - but it makes for a good soapbox (even though everyone sees through the malarkey)

[New Horizons]

The most aggravating thing is to have heavy walkers living on top of you. No more though, I bought a nice old 70s ranch home.

Originally Posted by asufan

What's not to love about common walls and hearing your neighbors use the can at 3 AM? Not to mention the smells of Indian food from the neighbors below and the domestic disputes from the angry couple . Yeah I'll stupidly take my single family detached home with a private yard and space between my neighbors. Darn I guess I don't get to ride a bus lol.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

People really get defensive about the status quo, having grown up in a house in the suburbs, it's not as good a way to live as people make it out to be. You have to drive everywhere, for the most part walking and public transit are out of the question, and that disadvantages the working poor and children the most (who either can't afford a car or are not old enough to drive, respectively)

The biggest thing is commutes, which get longer and longer, unless you are willing to pay more for a house than it's worth to live close in, as sprawl causes price inflation the closest to jobs and ammenities due to more demand than supply.

But, whatever, I'm wrong, apartments suck, public transit sucks, houses and long commutes by car are the best thing since sliced bread. You guys won, I lost. End of discussion.

[AZ_Rookie]

^^^ it's not a win, lose thing... People can have choices - I don't know why you have a hard time with that.

I don't think anyone has a problem with you living in an apartment. You shouldn't have a problem with anyone living in a rural house.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

If somebody prefers to live in a box of stucco with a pile of crushed rocks for a yard in a sprawling suburban development, that's fine ... however, that kind of lifestyle doesn't appeal to everybody. The main thing that bothers me about suburban/exurban sprawl is the notion that it's cheaper living, when that's not necessarily the case.

Any way you look at it, we all end up paying for outward sprawl via our taxes in the form of more freeways, streets, sewer lines, public schools, etc. In the long run, it's actually cheaper to build in a more established area where the infrastructure already exists. The free market and individuals should decide what kind of housing is best, so long as everybody else's tax money isn't supporting their lifestyles.

What does it matter if the "box" is stucco, brick or block? In my case, the "box" is semi custom and not surrounded by a pile of crushed rocks, but rather lush landscaping, swimming pool, spa, outdoor kitchen and covered outdoor living spaces. The schools are A+ and since there's few good jobs in the urban core, my wife has a nice short 15-20 minute morning commute to Tempe from Chandler. Mine is even shorter to my home office. Rather than hearing sirens and traffic at night I hear waterfalls and frogs. People can stroll around the neighborhood at night without having to say no to the beggars/homeless. Sorry to shatter the picture you painted. Remind me again why I should live in the Central city? Is it for the longer commute, the decaying houses or the crime?

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by asufan

What does it matter if the "box" is stucco, brick or block? In my case, the "box" is semi custom and not surrounded by a pile of crushed rocks, but rather lush landscaping, swimming pool, spa, outdoor kitchen and covered outdoor living spaces. The schools are A+ and since there's few good jobs in the urban core, my wife has a nice short 15-20 minute morning commute to Tempe from Chandler. Mine is even shorter to my home office. Rather than hearing sirens and traffic at night I hear waterfalls and frogs. People can stroll around the neighborhood at night without having to say no to the beggars/homeless. Sorry to shatter the picture you painted. Remind me again why I should live in the Central city? Is it for the longer commute, the decaying houses or the crime?

Surely you know you don't fit the profile being discussed right?