Posted on 06/30/2008 9:43:27 PM PDT by B-Chan
Life on the fringes of U.S. suburbia becomes untenable with rising gas costs
ELIZABETH, Colorado: Suddenly, the economics of American suburban life are under assault as skyrocketing energy prices inflate the costs of reaching, heating and cooling homes on the outer edges of metropolitan areas.
As the realization takes hold that rising energy prices are less a momentary blip than a restructuring with lasting consequences, the high cost of fuel is threatening to slow the decades-old migration away from cities, while exacerbating the housing downturn by diminishing the appeal of larger homes set far from urban jobs.
[...]
Some proclaim the unfolding demise of suburbia.
"Many low-density suburbs and McMansion subdivisions, including some that are lovely and affluent today, may become what inner cities became in the 1960s and '70s - slums characterized by poverty, crime and decay," said Christopher Leinberger, an urban land use expert, in a recent essay in the Atlantic Monthly.
Most experts do not share such apocalyptic visions, seeing instead a gradual reordering.
"It's like an ebbing of this suburban tide," said Joe Cortright, an economist at the consulting group Impresa in Portland, Oregon. "There's going to be this kind of reversal of desirability. Typically, Americans have felt the periphery was most desirable, and now there's going to be a reversion to the center."
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
There are tons of people living in rural areas in places like France and Italy, with $8/gallon gas.
Now, over time, there’s no doubt higher gas costs will result in people making economic decisions to buy smaller cars and live closer to centers of employment. But the demise of the suburb, while highly desired by many on the political Left, isn’t happening anytime soon.
What does being "Christian" have anything to do with it? The coastal Northeast and the Pacific Nortwest are thriving with educated people, even though both regions are highly secular and have large populations of nonChristian faiths.
This scenario is popular now but it isn’t happening just yet.
An extra $80 a month is wiping these people out?
Bummer.
I guess it never occurs to these people that rather then return to the urban pest holes, these intelligent, hard working, educated people will figure out a way to TAKE THEIR JOBS with them to the suburbs. Thereby getting rid of the need to commute, and also the cash, talent and skills that keep those cities from descending further into the 9th circle of hell.
Contact your Congress critters to let them know that you are tired of high gas prices.
Agreed. Any family wealthy enough to afford a two thousand square foot plus home is not going to run back to the big city because they have to pay a little more for gas or heating fuel.
A bit?
This is about the most over the top bit o' hype I have read in the past month.
Yes, gas has doubled in price. No, people are not going to move over an extra $84.00 a month. The price to move would cover that for a year. Besides a lot of them already work close to where they live, the average daily commute is 24.3 minutes per day. No, that is not one way, that is total.
Why would you move into the city were the commute is actually longer?
That might be true for a certain percentage, but what are the numbers? How many, percentage-wise, have been forced to move out of their large houses? And even if they have to set their sights a little lower and move closer to the big city or live in smaller residences, are they really suffering? That is my objection to many of these stories. They make it sound like life has become intolerable for most Americans. I sincerely doubt it.
Oh, but you “country folk” are the targets of this.
You’re too independent, you’re not living in the collective hive where the socialists can control you.
That’s why the dhims won’t do anything that will reduce energy costs - they want us all huddling in the dark & cold in a big mass where we’re controllable.
hmmm.. I’d say the futures market on this question
“will the dhimmirats scream that this is a racist country when Obama loses”
will have no value, because no one would be fool enough to take the opposing position.
Starting next week I cut my work related gas expense from $400/mo to Zero. Baby’s gonna get new shoes!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.