The recession in and of itself is a pretty major game changer, but there are other factors, too, that are contributing to a major rethinking of how we live, work, and play. The answer, for some, is density. They can live closer to work and reduce their commute time, or can live out in the country in a place where they can walk to their daily needs when home saving their driving for the commute to work. Many cities have enjoyed a resurgence, as well. The current price point of these revitalized areas is currently preventing wider acceptance, though. Even after the bubble burst the cost of admission is still beyond the reach of the average American household. Those looking to be closer to the countryside but still near amenities have found plenty of small towns that offer a different lifestyle and a lower price tag. Some of these micropolitan areas have even outpaced their metropolitan cousins. There are also many examples of towns being built in lieu of subdivisions throughout the US. The success of these New Towns has attracted the attention of larger developers who have tried to emulate that success. In so doing they have brought with them their same house design mentality and applied it to these denser towns but on significantly smaller lots. Understatement alert: The results have not been entirely successful. There is a huge disconnect between the houses being dropped on these lots and the lots themselves. These houses were designed for the subdivisions, they are open plans looking out to open spaces. They are then dropped on smaller lots. It becomes painfully clear that instead of being free you are actually under constant surveillance by your neighbors due to proximity. You need to keep the curtains closed for privacy, and the yard is so small that looking out onto it is yet another reminder that you're packed in like sardines. Instead of getting the American dream, instead of getting more freedom, the home owner just dropped three quarters of a million dollars on a large house that, for some reason, feels cramped. Many operated under the mistaken impression that they were providing the best of both worlds. In fact what they were providing was an object lesson in missed opportunities. The next post will provide an overview of how they missed the mark.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Build Small, Live Large :: Paradigm Shift
The recession in and of itself is a pretty major game changer, but there are other factors, too, that are contributing to a major rethinking of how we live, work, and play. The answer, for some, is density. They can live closer to work and reduce their commute time, or can live out in the country in a place where they can walk to their daily needs when home saving their driving for the commute to work. Many cities have enjoyed a resurgence, as well. The current price point of these revitalized areas is currently preventing wider acceptance, though. Even after the bubble burst the cost of admission is still beyond the reach of the average American household. Those looking to be closer to the countryside but still near amenities have found plenty of small towns that offer a different lifestyle and a lower price tag. Some of these micropolitan areas have even outpaced their metropolitan cousins. There are also many examples of towns being built in lieu of subdivisions throughout the US. The success of these New Towns has attracted the attention of larger developers who have tried to emulate that success. In so doing they have brought with them their same house design mentality and applied it to these denser towns but on significantly smaller lots. Understatement alert: The results have not been entirely successful. There is a huge disconnect between the houses being dropped on these lots and the lots themselves. These houses were designed for the subdivisions, they are open plans looking out to open spaces. They are then dropped on smaller lots. It becomes painfully clear that instead of being free you are actually under constant surveillance by your neighbors due to proximity. You need to keep the curtains closed for privacy, and the yard is so small that looking out onto it is yet another reminder that you're packed in like sardines. Instead of getting the American dream, instead of getting more freedom, the home owner just dropped three quarters of a million dollars on a large house that, for some reason, feels cramped. Many operated under the mistaken impression that they were providing the best of both worlds. In fact what they were providing was an object lesson in missed opportunities. The next post will provide an overview of how they missed the mark.
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