I saw this coming some time ago.
Gas prices are out of control, So it really isn’t a suprise to see stories like this.
In other words, many suburban drivers are resigned to forking over a C-note a week for gas. Aside from getting a hybrid, they say there’s little else they can do.
“I have three little kids and I drive all the time - to the doctor’s, to the grocery store, to school,” said Anna Pelletier, 36, of Pottstown. “If you live in the suburbs, you don’t have many options.”
Part of the reason we decided to live in an urban area is because you could walk to places instead of having to drive. While Mass transit in our beautiful city isn’t quite as developed as NYC, Phila or DC, it does work if you know how to use it. People who bought into the myth that some how, the suburbs were a “better choice” are now feeling the pain of their choice. What was the lure of the Suburbs? When I lived in the ‘burbs, no one talked to anyone, everyone was forced to drive everywhere and there wasn’t a cohesive community. The schools were overcrowded and staffed with under qualified teachers who weren’t given the best tools to teach with, so it certainly couldn’t have been the “Better schools” excuse. Perhaps, in the 80’s, things in the ‘burbs were better. Now, we’re seeing a shift. Two major forces are now closing in on that suburban dream: Foreclosures and high gas prices. Areas hardest hit by the housing bust are experiencing vacant homes sitting on the market for months on end. Some are boarded up, some have extensive mold growth, some have been looted. Others have squatters and now drug dealers.
I’m glad I made my choice to live within an urban area. Perhaps because of these factors, we will see demand for urban housing go up while more retailers will abandon plans to build in the ‘burbs and bring much needed retail into our city.
May 27th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I think more people would consider city living if Baltimore residents learned some self-discipline and control. Or if BCPD would enforce on them.
I find most people who rave about “city living” only do so when the “city” is safely contained in Better Waverly or Park Heights.
May 28th, 2008 at 6:47 am
That’s a bit of a blanket statement. If you want to continue gross misrepresentations, I know plenty of snobby suburban residents who believe that every city resident doesn’t know self discipline or control. Also, I don not live in either neighborhood, so you’re incorrect in your assumption.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I can’t wait to move in to the city! Less time commuting.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
“gross misrepresentations”? The city has a murder rate on par with the 3rd world, a student body that has proven incapable of passing even the city’s dumb-down standards, and the tendency to reelect the same people who made it possible.
“Also, I don not live in either neighborhood, so you’re incorrect in your assumption.” Actually, I never said you lived there. I said people like you who rave about city life only do so when the “city” is kept away from you.
Take Canton. I know people who live there. They rave about how great “city life” is. Then Baltimore City decide to build get this, a school. A city school. Witness now the gnashing of teeth because Canton residents do not want it there because it is a threat to community safety. Why? because city school children are criminalized as a class due to their lack of discipline, general idiocy, and an unwillingness on the part of the city, both the government and residents, to lower the boom.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I said people like you who rave about city life only do so when the “city” is kept away from you.
First of all, the “city” isn’t kept away from me. Secondly, I’m not like other people, I know the “real city” and what it entails. I do not vote for the same assholes and I do not like people who “love city life” but don’t like “a bad element” in their neighborhood. People like that move to the city because it’s “the thing to do!” at the current moment. After one crime is committed, they lump all people together in a class as you stated above and DO NOT WORK to fix what creates the problems. They only try to cover it up or wish it away from their neighborhood. Those people usually end up flipping their homes to the next hipster couple who intend on moving to the burbs after their first child is born, anyway. So, I’m Not” People like you who rave about city life.”
Secondly, If the residents of Canton can suck my ass if they don’t want to help create a solution to a major problem. If they don’t like it, well—they can take their false sense of community, pack it up in their mini vans and move to the burbs.
Third, I’ve actually been to third world countries and BELIEVE ME, the murder & crime rates in industrialized third world countries are ten times worse then the city of Baltimore.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:27 am
Now you know I live in the ‘burbs and there are advantages and disadvantages. We do have a sense of community in our neighborhood. We still have crime too. (Shocking, I know!) However, that being said — the crime is petty, whereas, in parts of our city there are frequent gun crimes. No thank you. The neighborhood where I live contained the only house in our price range that was in a neighborhood with reasonable large trees and felt safe. Our house is hella small, but the neighbors are nice. In Nebraska our public transportation system is … um … let’s just say “weak”, even if you know how to use it, you’d have to plan your day to include a couple of hours of travel time. We’re pretty spread out in Omaha too. Where I live is about halfway between where I work and Hubbo works. It is what it is, and we do what we do. It’s far from perfect … but perfect for me would be a cottage in the woods, with a high-speed internet connection. If I had to choose between one or the other, I’d choose the woods.