The marketing of suburbia was a lie. Here’s how we can fix it.

[@herbtarlic892]

You've touched on one of the major problems in traditional suburban developments; the decline of third places. These are the gathering places where people might stop for a coffee, sit for a brief rest, grab a sandwich, find a spot to read the paper, write a letter, etc. Home is the first place, work is the second place and these are the third place, which have been in decline in recent years and during Covid, have almost disappeared. Unfortunately, many current "third places" have become privately owned which is inherently restrictive. Others often require spending money as a requirement to inhabit the space. Developers must keep these features in mind to insure a more successful result.

[@NotShowingOff]

Who the heck wants to make the journey a day trip. It’s hot. Traffic sucks. I might have to go to the restroom anytime I’m stuck in traffic. You can’t walk or bike anywhere

[@MadsterV]

This, and for children! During formative years, children NEED to socialize outside of a class, IN PERSON. They need a place to do it! if they don't, they'll develop into obsessive, vitriolic, stunted assholes!

[@KD-ou2np]

Also zoning means those third places are literally not allowed to be built within walking distance of your home.

[@richatlarge462]

As someone who has lived in suburbia for more or less 65 years, I'd say that a big change is that home is now often the first place when it comes to work as well as personal life. The second place is everywhere else in the suburban area, from shopping to cafes to gyms to parks to just walking one's neighborhood, to visiting friends and going to events. The third places consist of rarer forays outside one's suburban area.

[@Magnulus76]

Churches were often the usual third places in American suburbs.

[@kevinlee6118]

The problem isn't suburbia, by having variable density, we don't need high density everywhere, the issue with suburbia is actually car-dependency, suburbs can be amazing when coupled with good mass transport and minimise traffic congestion

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

Transit oriented suburbs are a real thing. Remember the streetcar suburbs?

[@AlmaVasquezjr]

Cities is crime disease places,

[@Coloradocorean]

There is no public spaces for community to gather. No public squares, pools, community centers. Yes there are cities that have them, but it is not the norm.

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

@@AlmaVasquezjr Contrary to what paranoid suburbanites believe from mainstream media, not all cities crime-infested.

[@richatlarge462]

But public transit is typically a horrible experience in the US, and there isn't that much traffic in suburbia itself - just heading to the cities and back. Families definitely prefer low-density. Anything to not share walls with other people.

[@susanlippy1009]

Malls were killed by technology. It started with in house A/C becoming normal. Before that you went to the mall or the neighborhood pool to cool down. It marched on with internet and E-commerce bringing everything you want, when you want. Then retailers decided to go with " self" checkout over customer service and continues with food and groceries straight to doorstep. Once if you wanted to see entertainment you had to go to the theater, now the theater is in your home. Surround sound and all! No longer do you need to leave home for food, entertainment or comfort. Even dating is online now. Its replaced grandma sending you down the street to get sugar from the neighbor in hopes you bump into her son whos such a nice young man🤣. Life changed.

[@steveftoth]

These are all good reasons why future malls will not be built but even in the late 80s and early 90s I remember that we had levels of failing malls, as each new mall built would take customers from the previously built ones. Leaving husks of dead commerce in their wake. They over built them trying to create money from nothing. Now due to the reasons you gave they know there is no more money in making more malls because we can just do all the stuff at home.

[@susanlippy1009]

@@steveftoth they did. As soon as a mall has lost that new mall excitement they moved on. It would have made more sense to renovate the old malls to fit the latest aesthetic than to leave decaying eyesores. I rarely go to a mall as I don't have need but would do yo a well planned out shopping district. I drive to visit yellow springs and have saunte ed through uptown Westerville on a day off. I have no interest in big box stores with asphalt jungles. I remember shopping in the malls of the 70's and 80's. The Christmas displays could be epic. We had a shopping area known as the continent that looked like a French town complete with brick streets lined with shops. Spent quite a few enjoyable days there. I hate Easton and Polaris. They are to sprawled out. You can't walk everything easily. If I have to constantly go out to my car and move store to store I'm not going, especially in winter. Young kids don't like the malls as we did as it's just nothing special. What's special about a movie if they are always available 24/7 on demand? What's the point of going shopping when you can click through endless offerings online in seconds? Why bother to go out to the restaurant when you can order in. Sad really. It's the death of communities. As kids we met up at the mall to game and hang. You had shared experiences with neighbors. Now you don't know the guy nextdoor🤣. I'm not sure it's necessarily a good thing.

[@Iquey]

​@@steveftoth near the big mall I work close to, there are a lot of hotels and luxury condos being built. The Intercontinental just finished in Bellevue Washington with "Avenue" condo tower next door, and it has a few boutique retail/service sector commercial spaces in the bottom. But basically they know that you can't make money without having people nearby, and giving them a reason to go outside.

[@davyjones419]

I think it helps to think of malls not places but as products. They exist for large national chains and big box stores to extract wealth from the surrounding community. Places are made by the people of the community and generate wealth for that community. Great places are made by many people and as a result, they’re able to adapt and change over time. As you correctly note, malls were unable to do this, because they’re a product.

[@susanlippy1009]

@@davyjones419 true malls can be a simple product. They can also be placed if designed with the community in mind. If you place nice apartments and condos around a square with shopping and entertainment adding green spaces and seating it is a place and a product in one. Old fashioned malls were places. They were designed with keeping shoppers engaged all day as a focal point. All your needs were met at a mall. Cool air on a hot day, indoor playgrounds on a rainy day, heated streets in winter. Stores had windows like a small town where displays would be put up, often seasonal. Most had senior walking clubs before the stores opened. They served the community. The modern malls almost are that but are to massive and buildings spread far apart. They are not designed for the community but rather as mini cities within the city.

[@MrHeff]

Great interview. I think the only thing holding us back from doing all this is those pesky zoning laws! Write to your local politicians and demand for zoning reform!

[@WillmobilePlus]

Everyone hates zoning laws, until they appeal to them to keep something they rather not have next to their house.

[@Kahoobb]

​@@WillmobilePlus Nimbys you mean?

[@gregorynuttall]

As an elected official myself, yes please write and talk to your elected officials. We need you to publicly express your support for zoning reform. Come prepared with a researched and informed goal for what you're looking to achieve. Get a group of your neighbors and friends to go and support with you in a public meeting.

[@zacharymitchell8546]

​@@WillmobilePlusThere's a huge difference between "I don't want an industrial chemical plant next to my house" and "I do not want my neighbor building a duplex"

[@Libertaro-i2u]

What could be so bad about a small apartment complex, pocket community and or small business in the neighborhood?

[@Retma335]

Should credit the people in the interview by having them listed in the description and links to their businesses. Annoyingly searching for their info

[@Avsfan23]

Poor thing

[@juniorrokudevelopertutoria3734]

Strange that somehow you are not allowed to grow veggies at you front lawn in the land of the free. So unsustainable

[@bd8560]

Yall brushed over the white flight aspect of suburbia’s origin lol

[@coincrazy3563]

you mean forced desegregation by jewish russians posing as americans?

[@_Ridethemaverick]

Right😂😂😂

[@poppajwalker9344]

It would open the door to uncomfortable questions

[@aucontraire1986]

I am perfectly fine with getting rid of unused shopping mall space to build more housing. It is desperately needed.

[@JohnSmith-vr3xr]

I just bought a home in a modest 100 yrs old home close to town, park, and library. Side walks and old growth trees. I call it an old growth neighborhood.

[@JPCommenting]

congrats on the new house!

[@unconventionalideas5683]

Good for you!

[@khanra]

Suburban home owners will fight tooth and nail against new housing. Keeping the supply low raises the value of their homes.

[@krist-yonnarain7786]

Im surprised more people haven’t caught on to this the “housing crisis” is truly a man made issue. There is more than enough room for everybody but some areas are intentionally underdeveloped. I lived in upstate New York and every year there was petition for a train station to be built on one of the parking lots downtown (there are 5 in total). It keeps getting shut down because “where are people gonna park”🤦🏽‍♂️. Like you guys can’t walk more than 10 minutes ?

[@benvin10365]

Why housing keeps getting more expensive. kzbin.info/www/bejne/raDdZX6disd8g8Usi=ORhGgixmCpsrvEOz

[@billybarnett2846]

Corporations have gotten involved in housing and renting.

[@bikebudha01]

we fight for our single family housing because we want our single family housing. it's the best form of housing. and we've spent decades making it ours. fk anyone who wants to come in and take what's ours away. you want to live 'the hampster life' (apartment life), build it. See how few people want to give up having a garage. Or having their own backyard. Or not having someone living above them. Or not having to walk up 2-3 flights of stairs. Or having to deal with a landlord.

[@ciara7172]

The home owners are increasingly corporate entities

[@lesliesmith7312]

In my area the reason the strip malls are empty is because the landlords refuse to do maintenance. The roofs are leaking and black mold is growing in the ceilings and ruining the ceiling tiles. No business wants to rent space when they know it’s going to be such a fight to get anything fixed

[@truettadevil]

They only own strip malls in the hopes that a developer buys it from them one day. It's a holding strategy. They don't care about the community or the condition of the building.

[@abdilatifmohamud7298]

Zoning and property tax are the biggest obstacles - property tax rules enables decrepit malls, parking lots, scrapyards to have very low property taxes, and the zoning means it's impossible to do anything else with the land.

[@bikebudha01]

Zoning has nothing to do with it... Peope WANT single family housing. I've never met anyone who wanted to live in a tiny box, with people above/below/beside them vs having their own yard, a garage, and no one living above/below/beside them...

[@JPCommenting]

@@bikebudha01 eh i stand in the middle Zoning has to do with it in terms of community activity, things to do in the town/city at a walkable distance overall. But also i agree that they are trying hard to push the “live like sardines for your own good” concept, and i detest that. I enjoy having a big yard, place to park more than 2 cars etc.

[@bikebudha01]

@@JPCommenting yeah, if people wanted to live "the hampster life", they would.

[@JC-nl3nh]

@@bikebudha01 agreed it seems these boxes they put up 5 stories also get filled with asians and indians and act as ethnic cleansing vectors in formerly white communities.

[@Swayla]

Disappointed that redlining and white flight wasn’t discussed as part of the appeal of suburbs. Growing up in and around Baltimore, it’s clear that the city was emptied when black people were allowed to move into “white” neighborhoods. Many of the poorer white neighborhoods moved to the rural suburbs of Maryland and PA.

[@AaronTheHarris]

I've been to Mueller in Austin. It feels the way I imagine suburbs were originally supposed to feel: a sense of community, a sense of being connected to your neighbors. A place that's categorically safe for kids, in both having a place to play that's not along a car right of way but also having "eyes on the street", people out walking and enjoying the grid street layout (as opposed to only having one way in or out due to culs-de-sac).

[@MrBoxofplastic]

Suburbs are now narrow , small townhouses 45 minutes from your work. Ugh!

[@bb1111116]

I’ll bring up one thing. Cheap oil (which leads to cheaper gas/petrol). For over 100 years, the US had it and Western Europe did not. That made the growth of the US suburbs possible.

[@clarekramer411]

When I was growing up my parents were moving away from the city. Sadly, I realized as an adult that they were running away from black people living in the neighborhood. I think this is an important point to remember.

[@richatlarge462]

Why "sadly". There was a reason, and you should say "thank you". Imagine the alternative, in public schools and in neighborhood life: an urban black area vs a suburban non-black area. Your parents did right by you. I observe that wealthy liberals do the same. If you disagree, feel free to move to a black neighborhood and, if you have kids, place them in the public schools there. I know you won't.

[@FellDownTheCornHole]

@@richatlarge462loud & racist.

[@MaybeBillClinton]

​@@richatlarge462It's sadly because if these areas HADN'T experienced so much white flight, they probably would be way better places to live right now. They would likely have continued to receive funding for public schools and utilities rather than all the money drying up for them. You act like the poor living situation and quality of life in these areas are a factor of their "blackness" or it's a foregone conclusion that they were always going to be rougher areas and that's not the case. They're underserved because a huge amount of money and people left the area. Imagine how much better they would have been if cities and their residents HADN'T abandoned them.

[@richatlarge462]

@@MaybeBillClinton They didn't "experience" white flight. Whites experienced a growing level of crime and a new coarseness of neighborhood culture, so they left. If whites had stayed, then relatively few others could have moved in, due to no houses being available. It's not like lots of housing was added to SF neighborhoods. Public schools are funded enough that willing students can learn. The issue in black urban areas is not public funding, it's poor behavioral choices by a sizeable percentage of residents. Which is why no one wants to live where they do, and why others leave when enough of them arrive. "Underserved" is a loser word meaning that there should be an expectation that taxpayers are the ones to make a good life for you.

[@LonnieBhi]

​​@@richatlarge462 If you actually befriended black people you would know not all black people act the same, nor share the same culture/values/ideals. I had a landlord once tell me "you're so quiet as a mouse" she was surprised to say the least. I'm not sure if she was expecting me to be loud or blast loud music because I'm "black", but it can be very telling when people have assumptions about you before getting to know the facts. I hate loud music and don't want to live next to anyone regardless of how they look if they enjoy loud music, but people love making trivial subjects like these about race when it simply has nothing to do with it. Its personal preference. If you agree, we'd share something in common, but if you're too focused on skin color, you're going to miss these subtle details which actual make us very much alike as people. Being a working professional, dressed nice, mild mannered etc you would think others would be able to distinguish that I may be similar to them & share the same mindset, but internal bias makes people create falsehoods. You are wrong, and one day when you mature and grow, then you will understand exactly what I'm talking about.

[@dominique2047]

Us Americans rediscovering community is wild, considering the entire world lives like that.

[@AngelaVal-q3b]

You are building a city. Cities have neighborhoods parks, community centers, town squares, mixed use buildings with retail on the bottom home above, office buildings that have condos on the top ten floors etc. Philadelphia for example most walkable city in the US, mass transit row hones have rain water barrels, rooftops have solar panels.

[@kyleinpa5285]

And Philadelphia has had a declining population for a while. People will self-select what type of area they want to live in. People who want to walk and take public transportation, and be in more racially diverse areas, will choose to live there. People who like driving, no traffic, low crime will choose more rural or suburban areas.

[@avinashreji60]

@@kyleinpa5285 nice dogwhistle jackass

[@williamjameslehy1341]

​@@kyleinpa5285do you think you're being subtle there?

[@kyleinpa5285]

@@williamjameslehy1341 Subtle about what? The race part?

[@dimmadometv]

@@kyleinpa5285The problem with Philly is endemic poverty, stemming from the mass exodus of middle class residents after WWII (due to suburbia). Had those people never left, the city would not be in the state it’s in today

[@joltjolt5060]

Walk to work? YES. Take one bus? YES. Walk to store? YES. Didn't happen in suburbia.

[@WinstonSmithGPT]

😂😂😂 You’re free to get on the NYC subway any time.

[@JoeyWheeler-m3s]

The getting a gallon of milk without a car challenge in suburbia. WARNING IMPOSSIBLE

[@xa0wnerx]

@@WinstonSmithGPTthe subway’s condition is an output of society, its not the subways fault it sucks, it’s society’s fault it sucks.

[@susanlippy1009]

@@JoeyWheeler-m3s to be fair in more pedestrian friendly countries you would hop down to the shops and buy a qt or 1/2 gallon not a gallon. Carrying that much isn't fun. The shops would be located close to you. You would go more frequently and purchase less, often just what you need for a day. Giant refrigerators aren't a thing most places outside US.

[@susanlippy1009]

@@xa0wnerx true. However people are not why the subway is extremely old, time did that. Much of the problems are infrastructure related. The subways need updating and repair. Time took a toll. Correct tho the crime is on society as a whole.

[@helengigante4038]

Close down urban planning programs funded by dev IT and hedge funds

[@AlphaHealthYT]

In Miami to get from the house I was staying at, in a suburb, to the closest strip mall, on foot, I either had to walk 35 min or walk 5 min and jump 2 fences. That is so ridiculous I have no words for it. Why would you divide public suburbs with walls?

[@notmyname9625]

Yeah thats my biggest problem with Miami. When i moved to Miami i was coming from a very small town in massachusetts. I was excited to move to miami thinking there would be more to do. In reality it was one of the most boring places i ever lived cuz the only thing i had in walking distance was strip malls, gas stations and carry out restaurants. I had access to most of what i needed but there wasnt shit to do and it felt more suburban than the small town i had moved from in MA

[@joanjones6882]

Florida's two favorite -isms - race and class (grew up in MIA)

[@jarvisaddison8560]

These two women totally ignored the racial part of the suburbs. This was aided by the VA and it's loan program of redlining . They avoided like the plague

[@zomertje6]

Agreed, they make great points but it's a shame they would not talk about this. Suburbs and suburbian history cannot be done properly without talking about racism..

[@keyring86]

It was mentioned, but they didn't go deep into it at around the 6:20 mark

[@zzz6valvoline]

They absolutely know. However, there is a population of Americans who would immediately turn off the video when presented with hard to swallow facts.

[@jarvisaddison8560]

@@zzz6valvoline facts

[@errin7227]

This was so disturbing to me.

[@magdycomics]

Evan Baehr, hey man your dialogue is unbelievably smart, light hearted and systematic. That has made the episode so vivid and interesting. Dude you should have your program !

[@chriszellmusic]

Regarding the interviewer's statement on bowling alleys being rare and mostly empty when you find one: I have never been interested in bowling but I went along with friends about a year ago in Lancaster, PA and the bowling alley was packed like you wouldn't believe a d they said that is normal there.

[@robinbirdj743]

We have one too in the Midwest!

[@johnatyoutube]

This is not a new model. It's been used in MD since the late 80s. Unfortunately, it tends to create even more overpriced communities than the old suburban model. You have to be wealthy to buy into a community like this to not have to skimp on living space. When I was buying my second home in the 1990s, I could only afford to buy in a suburban community rather than the first community created in this new model in the US called called The Kentlands. It was the forerunner of all walkable communities like this. I paid $100k less for a comparable home in a beautiful suburban community just 10 miles away. Our planners and governments need to focus on affordability as well as liveability. Young people now can't afford to buy what is being built. And the folks who can are aging out. And folks over 60 need more smaller single level homes. Nobody's needs are being met. These models are simply being used to squeeze more homes into less real estate truly only benefiting the developers.

[@phillyvoodoo]

But a higher density also benefits the state as a whole and the major higher density cities that are close to the suburban community...... Almost all of the suburbs in the US are subsidized by the cities in the state by state tax dollars because the low density of the burbs doesn't collect enough money to pay for it's own sprawling infrastructure.... Unless you create more density in the suburbs it will never be able to pay for itself unless it's one of the very small Incorporated towns....

[@bbbo85]

The only reason this is more expansive is because of absolutely abysmal supply and suburbs are heavily subsidized. Before roads and suburbs were subsidized, around 1920?, US was just like any other EU country building high density neighborhoods because it was the only mode of development that made sense and was possible. We are where we are now with "The American Dream" campaign and lobbying of the car manufacturers.

[@WinstonSmithGPT]

@@phillyvoodooYou have no idea what you are talking about. The cities are crammed with government dependent populations who suck from the suburbs. Businesses are no longer located downtown. They’re in the suburbs.

[@phillyvoodoo]

@@WinstonSmithGPT Populations pay more taxes than a few businesses..... This is not an opinion it's well documented mathematical fact..... It's all over government documentation..... With the exception of a handful of well running suburban municipalities, Most of all of American suburbs are and have always been on the brink of insolvency because of the cost of the infrastructure and the inability to repay the initial build because of the lack of density......

[@johnatyoutube]

@@phillyvoodoo This is definitely not true in MD. Baltimore needs more tax dollars than it provides to be sustained. That's true for many industrial cities.

[@Suzanne291]

I dont understand the slam of Suburbia. I adored my subburban childhood, it was glorious in the 70-80's. We rode bikes freely and swam all day, Our family does the same today but there are way fewer kids out. Our city has transformed into a city with walking paths, and people are coming back.

[@cerealORRH]

I do. The reason why nobody likes the direction of suburbs is because it's not focused on accessibility, walkability, affordability, and a tight-knit community. Young people (Millennials and Gen Z) cannot even afford these modern houses, because of zoning laws making older people prevent newer houses being built, the houses being built for profit and transportation, etc. The suburbia design looks ugly, and promotes individualism and transportation, among other factors. Maybe your suburbia was different in the 70s and 80s, but it's horrific now

[@dimmadometv]

It’s too spread out, not much to offer for a young person in the 21st century. Nothing beats the beauty of being able to walk outside your door and having the whole world (friends, family, food, shops) right at your fingertips. All within a couple blocks radius.

[@trilll3840]

A lot of the people in my age group saying this don’t go outside, they were also the biggest fighters for Work from home jobs as well…..

[@neoturfmasterMVS]

University Professor in New York | You lost me already. Have no idea what its like living in Georgia. There is no 'housing crisis'. Totally made up. The only 'house crisis' is the cities and towns that are themselves dying and the abandon homes, schools, hospitals, roads that have come to total decay. Its empty homes that are the crisis. The ability to build new homes is near infinite. Its the dying America that is the crisis. Not big cities having a hard time getting bigger. What a slight of hand to turn peoples eyes away from a real crisis to call something else that isn't a crisis.

[@b0borden437]

Not only do I love their idea's but as an empty nester.....I would love to live in a place like that. I am also really interested in the tiny house movement and would love to live in one.

[@SK-lt1so]

I hear the argument that "you have to drive" in the suburbs to buy groceries-but every big city I've been to has no large, relatively inexpensive grocery store in its central area. Lots of small bodegas selling lousy groceries, instead.

[@dsdwtn5911]

This is a very good point on an essential everyday need. Fortunately, I've seen change coming in some larger cities too (granted few at this point). My city, Cincinnati, recently built a full-size Kroger (large grocery) in a new high rise utilizing a smaller land footprint. Parking for those who need it is underneath the store. This in turn has helped to continue the renaissance for the downtown. We also have a large one hundred-year-old food market that supports local farmers and retailers. I hope any discussions on urban renewal consider this aspect.

[@DavidB-et7gs]

Great interview but I wish there were more visual examples. Even a slideshow

[@Snoop-z2j]

It depends on where your suburbs are. Where I live I can walk to the supermarket around the corner is restaurants and the library is at the corner. Whoever designs this area really thought it out. Some are way to far from many places but people who live like that really want to. But the really issue is schools most people move because city schools are not as good as suburban schools. That also needs to be an issue addressed

[@lolz-f6c]

I live in a neighborhood that is similar to this. When I moved in only the first section was built, it was just houses at that point. I absolutely hate it now that all the townhouses, apartments, and stores have been added. It’s crowded and there’s no privacy. I want to leave and go the country now. There’s too many damn people.

[@revolverdon]

I grew up in the suburbs during the late 60 s. It was simply great. As a builder for over 46 years I know homes can be built for much less than they are. These 2 people simply are making things so complicated. I wish they were smarter so they could see how dumb they are .

[@MprivetM]

21:00 Americans discovering basically every place I have lived at, in Europe. I moved a lot: Sweden, Poland, Norway. I live now in a suburban house, I DON'T have a car. I take a bus 5 min, to train that takes me to City center in 10 min, and a take a subway 10 min. It's all about creating a convenient alternative, people will prefer walking, or cycling if you are Dutch :)

[@Avsfan23]

"Chronic loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day." That's the most bs finding any study has ever done. What's the health risk equivalent of being around people you don't like?

[@JolieDarrow]

Build neighborhoods like this in Los Angeles and put collectively own movie studios in the middle 🤣

[@cirqueduawesome6278]

I agree on most points, but saying Mueller is affordable is just nuts. It’s “affordable” for people that come out of state from places like California where they are used to paying ridiculous prices for the homes. Even the affordability program is only meant for a very narrow select group of people and if you didn’t get in early, well you’re stuck waiting forever for a unit to come up for sale. Not to mention, the Mueller Project ended up pushing a lot of POC out of the area because of how expensive it got and continues to do so.

[@chrisaugustin9181]

the more meullers the lower the prices! the sooner cities in america wake up to car centric design, the cheaper housing will be for every single american like it was in the 50z

[@falsificationism]

I want to know how to improve urban blight and bring services to urban areas with no walkable grocer. Washington D.C. is like this everywhere east of Rock Creek Park for instance. It's just row homes and stroads, with the occasional blighted street (Georgia Ave, Kennedy, etc.). No trolleys. No bike paths. A few buses that don't go anywhere. Way, *WAY* too many cars. 30-60 minutes away from the nearest train stop if you're lucky.

[@wrvpgod2155]

Mueller is expensive as hell. I thought I was gonna be able to move 🤣🤣

[@MassDynamic]

suburbs (the way they are now) aren't mathematically sustainable. it costs more material to maintain the infrastructure and it takes more energy (whether gas or electricity) to run (per person) suburbs as compared to urban areas. it doesnt make sense to have to *require* a car to get some groceries or just to eat out.

[@theresabu3000]

Having denser neighborhoods - houses with two - four stories, public transport options , streets with trees, bicycle lanes, shops and offices, bakeries, schools, parks and playgrounds around the corner... Having public services concentrated is much cheaper for all - city's create much more tax revenue than suburbs. The Netherlands are extremely densely populated but they rely less on cars and more on traveling by bike because it makes sense for all and is cheaper. The option to not need a car to get around gives you the freedom to invest your money elsewhere. With car sharing options you'll still be cheaper off while using a car if you want to (for trips).

[@kyleinpa5285]

What if someone likes living in the suburbs and driving?

[@wescoleman6390]

​@@kyleinpa5285 That's fine, but a person living in a car dependent suburb by choice should bear the cost of that extra infrastructure. But many do not live there by choice. They live there because it has become illegal to build the type of walkable small towns that used to be the default 100 years ago. If you want to drive everywhere, that's still an option. But it should not be the only option the way it is now in so many places.

[@kyleinpa5285]

@@wescoleman6390The people in the car dependent neighborhoods as you call them actually subsidize others. The real estate taxes that are paid by single family homeowners are directly used to pay for public schools who are used by everyone in the area whether they own a home or live in apartments. The roads are paid for by the state and federal gas tax on every gallon of gasoline that a car owner uses. People who don’t own a car pay zero of that. And even worse, the turnpike in our state uses some of the toll income to subsidize the money losing subway system in Philadelphia. So drivers on the turnpike have to pay a higher toll that they otherwise would so subway riders can enjoy lower subway ticket prices. The main thing that rubs me the wrong way is that some city left wing people want to control how others live, when those others want to be left alone and don’t care how “city folk” live their lives.

[@Gusthebusisreal]

@@kyleinpa5285 PAY FOR IT. WHICH IS VERY EXPESIVIVE, BUT IF YOU CAN PAY NON REGULATED, OK.

[@Alypnwcutie]

This is Fantastic perspective! I was able to get a home back in 2022 at 28 years old. I got approved for 358k and found many 15 year old homes in my hometown SW WA from mid 2000’s that needed light reno 4 bedroom 3 bath homes. I thought to myself do I want this.. all I do is go to work.. pay my bills. I am alone. What will I do.. move in strangers . To pay my mortgage .. be isolated more so.. to my home and work and car for commute. I don’t want it. It’s not the future I see. I am in downtown Portland as much as I can because I enjoy the architecture and city parks as well as shops and food carts. I much prefer to be around an urbanized center with hundreds of other demographics than a lonely sub where no one is home or at work. America has changed . Back in the 1950’s everyone could identity together, our communities are dying. People need opp to mingle with folks who are not within their traditional “group” to smarten up. We’re heading into 2025 peeps. We’re here trying to keep up with times gone 45+ years. Let the housing revolution and change for the better happen. millennial 30 .

[@cmw3737]

The people who most want to live in suburbs with no culture are paranoid overprotective parents. The ones who least want to live there are their teenage children who are isolated and have to get driven anywhere by their parents to have any form of social life. These redevelopments that recognise the changing needs of new demographics are not just pretty awesome as the lady says. They are amazing examples that should be followed all across the country. A good public realm creates huge value that people want and they will pay for it in the form of higher house prices but then expect to get for free once they have that and are on the local HOA. The cost being paid for through a cut of house sales is a step in the right direction.

[@WillmobilePlus]

Weird because people like you are the first to take off for them the moment crime visits your gentrified urban neighborhood.

[@JPCommenting]

What's sad is that some of these places only require lights and sidewalks. Where I live it would be beautiful to walk around, but the people in charge of the town are extremely against sidewalks or lights (because to them it is considered light pollution) they are also against any business besides an old convenient store of sorts that closes at 6pm (so most people who work never get to go there) being around, which stinks! I lived in a city that was mostly rural, but it was nice to be able to walk to the stores that were available to us and I used to skate outside until like 2am haha, it was so much fun! I just don't foresee my kiddo having that experience in the town that I am in, however the town that I am in does have much better schools.

[@nickgonzalez-q2y]

One the biggest problems is there is nowhere to go unless you're buying something. No real community places to meet new ppl or hang out also you need a car to get anywhere.

[@lesliekay5451]

This is a good interview. However as a resident of Austin, the middle class is absolutely left out of these plans. Specifically Mueller area either you are very wealthy or well below the poverty line. To qualify for the program you have to make 120% less than the median income in the city.

[@jb94103]

Agreed. This entire interview felt very elitist and utopian. Throughout the U.S. there are plenty of examples of urban reinvention which weren't initiated by large conglomerates such as ProLogic Inc. (parent company behind Mueller), and those communities are far more affordable and livable for more than Lululemon gold members.

[@CaponeCabin]

Low income neighborhood's have more crime. Not my opinion, but data facts. They have more abandon houses, trash issues. People want a better environment and work hard to stay in the nicer suburbs.

[@MadsterV]

This fails to address one thing though: different people want to live differently. Some want everything nearby, some want peace and quiet. Changing a peace and quiet type zone for an everything nearby zone will definitely make those who made the right choice for them years ago, very angry. How would you feel if you finally landed your ideal place and years later someone came and told you it's wrong and changed it without your consent? Sure reuse of abandoned spaces is great, but stop thinking of low-density as a problem to be solved. Give people who don't like it an alternative to move to instead.

[@dimmadometv]

We do live in a society though. The way one person lives affects the ways other people live. We have to think big picture, and truly build for a future. The matter of fact is that low density suburbia is not a sustainable practice (ecologically or socially), to continue building that way will only bring America harm. If your heart truly desires peace and quiet, there’s plenty of underutilized farmland in the interior to stake your claim in.

[@trilll3840]

@@dimmadometvmove to the city if you want to live in high density areas, reuse and repurpose all the old abandoned buildings and houses in those areas is fine, but there’s no reason to be going to already built suburbs and trying to replace or repurpose them

[@hugostiglitz6398]

I don't know a single millennial who would turn down a single family home in a suburb if they didn't have to pay for it with their kidney. The problem isn't if people want suburb or is suburbs are desirable. It's affordability and crime in abandoned suburbs.

[@anatoliagolden-hall4553]

I’m a millennial, and I do not prefer suburban living. I like being able to walk to places, instead of needing to rely on a car.

[@shilohcarey2818]

I am also a millennial and I do not want to live in the suburbs. I have 10 acres and I cannot see my neighbors houses, which is just the way I like it.

[@ThisIsATireFire]

I'm an older millennial with chronic illnesses. I'm out on farmland now, and moving into a major city will be quite the change, but easy access to shopping, medical services, and community means I won't be joining the suburbs either when I can't manage farm life anymore.

[@hugostiglitz6398]

@@shilohcarey2818 Sounds amazing. My point was really that city life is awful. Suburbs are better than cities, but nothing beats 10 acres (or even 1 acre) in rural areas. My main gripe is with people turning the suburbs into high density inner cities where you don't even have a back yard to let your dogs hang out in.

[@zeyna1881]

People do not want to commute anymore... it is much healthier and enjoyable to live in walkable neighborhoods

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

White flight built suburbia. I have lived my whole life in lake county Illinois.

[@trilll3840]

Sounded nice until they said limited water usage, sounds like they want to control everything you do in these neighborhoods

[@sarahuber8567]

I live in the suburbs and I love it!

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

Yes, suburbs can be as great as the cities if they are more pedestrian friendly and have mixed use zoning. Bring back the streetcar suburbs!

[@ericmyers3561]

The mall closed because of Amazon, babes

[@Alan-lv9rw]

I’m 62. I’ve spent my entire life in the suburbs of Chicago, NYC, and Dallas, TX. It’s been heaven.

[@kusheran]

I appreciate the brainstorming. I don't appreciate the harshness in the comments. This reminds me of the Innovator's Dilemma. Suburbs were an innovative solution, but are becoming an anchor slowing us down (because people are hostile to new/disruptive ideas). Let's agree to keep open minds.

[@phillyvoodoo]

But the American suburbs were designed initially as a legal segregation zone...... Black were not allowed to move there and if there was a more liberal suburban community that would allow black families, the banks were still not allowed by law to give said family a mortgage...... That doesn't sound like welcome innovations to me.... Also not many people point out that because of the low density of the suburbs, the taxes that are collected have never been adequate to support and pay for the infrastructure and upkeep.... The tax money collected from local cities are collected and redistributed as subsidies to keep the burbs from insolvency

[@Iquey]

I think in current SFH developments, you should get a property tax incentive if you create walking paths between homes instead of fences, or sacrifice your property line by 2 feet on every edge (if you want to keep your fence but allow another way to travel on foot), to create walking paths between homes to form an inner backyard facing micro grid, so school kids and elders can walk more direct paths home from school and work/grocery stores, rather than being forced to walk on LONG winding sidewalks adjacent to cars on roads.

[@theresabu3000]

Being able to walk in your neighborhood seems like so essential, it's unfathomable to me that people only now seem to see a problem with missing safe crossings, sidewalks or shortcuts to be able to walk to a playground or school with your kids. I'm from Germany and walked to elementary school (~10 minutes) with my sister, because it was so safe. And it definitely shaped me - created a sense of freedom and independence.

[@wjksea]

I agree with the concept. Suburbia has proven grossly unsustainable in areas of dense population. Many alternative developments seem inauthentic though. I live in a 12 story mid rise concrete and steel in Seattle. I wish this was the norm. It baffles me how in spite of the more expensive construction of such buildings, some extending over 100 stories as NY and Chicago, this type of housing can be so expensive to individual homeowners being situated on a massively smaller parcel of land housing hundreds of homes. Likely because they are built on a cities most expensive real estate. Vancouver BC has built high around light rail stations and Seattle is beginning to do similar but lagging likely because it’s part of the U.S. and sees high density as a demotion. There should be high rises all over with great transit. It’s a great life when done right. The problem is ticky tacky stick construction with inadequate party walls, ceilings and floors. No one wants to hear their neighbors. It is very possible to have sound isolation in quality construction and this should be the standard and how this in suburban areas would be less affordable doesn’t make sense.

[@bige8549]

It doesn’t take a PhD to see that living expenses are going up a lot faster than income, and it all started when the rich and corporations got a tax cut in the 1980’s. Instead of single family homes, we need to build condos or apartments with community amenities; they use less natural resources (especially when retrofitting existing buildings) and are cheaper to buy and maintain. We need to incorporate net-zero energy principles and plant plants all around. Mixed use (residential and commercial) has worked well for many years in Europe and improves quality of life. Towns really need to stop replacing trees with pavement. I love the idea of pocket parks!

[@sarawoods1450]

Fabulous ideas old is new. This is what all pre-industrial communities grew but always around a church (a multi-generational , gathering and supporting group that offers friendships study food music and spiritual emotional support weekly!)

[@Robertking1996]

I wish we could have a European model at least for our cities, where you can own a flat or small apartment. Those kind of developments are so hard, we need more density.

[@Libertaro-i2u]

Yeah, small apartment buildings and rows of townhomes are the housing we need more of.

[@Robertking1996]

@@Libertaro-i2u Yes we do in fact, especially since most millenials and older gen z's won't be having kids. No need for the full suburban home. Mentioned groups also prefer city living.

[@Libertaro-i2u]

@@Robertking1996 Even most families really don't need more than 150 square meters or so, and singles and couples could easily get away with around 20 to 60 square metres. These above figures grant more than enough room for 1-4 bedrooms, 1-2.5 baths, relatively commodious living rooms and decent closet storage.

[@bikebudha01]

more density is not the answer, less people is the answer...

[@magdycomics]

اخيرا ، احدهم يطرح حلولا بدلا من طرح المشاكل التي نعرفها تماما لاننا نعيشها يوميا. شكرا لكل العاملين علي الحلقة وتحياتي للمحاور السوبر ذكي والضيفتين الرائعتين. نرجو المزيد. وحشترك في القناة دلوقتي، أهه 😄

[@benvin10365]

I prefer suburbs to urban inner-city living, and I would prefer living in the exurbs to living in the suburbs. I would prefer living alone on an acre or more with no neighbors, than being packed and stacked in high density housing.

[@bikebudha01]

exactly... so does everyone else...

[@michaelcap9550]

Cities even more unaffordable.

[@lorenafrigault]

Repurpose and reuse. Brilliant and healthy.

[@Casmige]

Malls were my [social] life in the 70’s & 80’s. They were packed any time I was there. I just want to know where all the people went because the malls that I went to like Valley view mall in Dallas Texas? Was not out in “suburbia” & The population density around that former mall did not shrink so where are the people going these days not only for socialization but also for shopping??. Maybe…we simply need to get rid of on-line & go back to the good-old-days.

[@DieNibelungenliad]

Good luck getting rid of the internet. Folk have chosen it over the mall

[@phillyvoodoo]

@@Casmige They failed to adapt....... With a new entity vying for the same attention they never created something of a more social value to compete. As you said the malls were gathering places back in the day, and as such more attention should have been given to the non shopping entertainment value..... I personally believe there is still much value left in the mall experience in the United States. It just has to be more of a mixed used social entertainment third place.......

[@mekon1971]

People used to have "discretionary income" now just the basic expenses of living takes up a larger % of income - leaving less to spend on "going out"

[@LuckyK7777]

Not only am I a former mall rat(80s,90s,2000s) I worked in retail for years and loved it! A lot of that traffic has gone to lifestyle centers, which are still doing pretty good, and outlet malls are now in more convenient locations. Also, personally I like art museums but that’s probably not an every weekend thing.

[@Casmige]

@@mekon1971 true, however? The malls were “Free”. It was just an expansive enclosed climate-controlled gathering place providing a destination away from home (Parents), & away from school (Teachers) & the constraints of the same. As one comment reply said it also provided retail jobs for teens as a way to earn discretionary income since hardly any of us paid rent while living at home. I guess teens just like staying at home now…🤷🏼

[@frankcoffey]

The pandemic already showed us the way. Work from home should be considered normal. Commuting to a place with the same tools you have at home should be considered weird.

[@josephj6521]

Exactly. It’ll solve affordability too.

[@JPCommenting]

Absolutely! To me it was always odd that we had to go all the way into these polluted and crowded cities to do the same thing we can do at home. I am happy that now that I work mostly from home, I am helping my local community by buying food in the small restaurants and the pizza place we have in town and I get to buy my snacks for 1/2 the price than in the city and help the shop owner. So I am very happy working from home!

[@edsteadham4085]

What makes them seek we want these beautiful gathering places. Im content letting my neighbors go about their lives so long as they leave me the hell alone

[@anyadocious]

Same!

[@OkByeNw]

Make no mistake, this is absolutely propaganda. But that doesn't mean it's completely wrong anout all the things they're trying to advocate. They're just completely untrustworthy with describing other communities and motivations behind them. The suburbs were not a bad idea when they were built. They were a reflection of our needs at the time. Post internet commerce has changed our needs, our neighborhoods should change too. But a lot of what they're advocating is a grift. A switch to renting and HOA fees instead of actual ownership.

[@cirqueduawesome6278]

Thank you!!! I’m from Austin and the from the moment they started talking about Mueller like it was such an affordable place to live I was like “huh???” Everyone in Austin knows how expensive that area is 🤣

[@OkByeNw]

@cirqueduawesome6278 yeah, there's a giant asterisk there. That community is so much more affordable... if you give up owning a your car.

[@robinbirdj743]

Yep, and people WANT to shop Dollar Stores and online.

[@fionafiona1146]

Suburbs were built on a whole lot of horrificly bad ideas, most of which were actively malicious. It's hard enough to redevelop the pockets of military housing the USA imposed on Europe (I hated the stupid layout, even after road dieting and building mixed use) but imagining the damage such a default did to people's understanding is beyond me.

[@OkByeNw]

@@fionafiona1146 you're very excited about learning what redlining was.

[@datura087]

Dear Miss William and Dunham, I resonate so much with your beliefs. Here in the Santa Clarita Valley as well as Bakersfield more and more single-family home suburbs are being built with green grass lawns and it is so infuriating. I really thought we were beyond that now, but apparently more work needs to be done. Thank you!

[@osamataha336]

Mueller is beautiful but expensive, the lowest price there is close to 650K for no more than 1500SQFT, it is not a middle-class place, it upper-middle and upper-class neighborhood

[@GonzoT38]

came here for this comment. The tone deafness required to champion Mueller as an example of reform while whistling past the graveyard that is gentrification. This is why people refute limousine liberal ideas, they fundamentally lack credibility even if they come from the correct policy position in the macro.

[@alexs858]

Mueller has affordable houses for people making under 80% of MFI. They actually had 2 houses leave the program because no one was in line to take them meaning no one is even signing up for the affordable program. It sells a 600k house for 200k subsidized by the state

[@Matt90541]

probably because neighborhoods like Mueller are a rarity so priced relative to its scarcity. Having lived there myself, it sure beats the rest of Austin

[@investingwithkat]

Looked up Mueller… 2000 sq ft town house 1.2 million

[@SP-ny1fk]

Suburbs were created to sell cars. Maybe the focus should be on living, not corporate ROI. Especially since the Reserve Bank can just print money.

[@bikebudha01]

cars are freedom. the bus can't take you skiing. the subway can't take you mountain biking. Uber can't take you fishing. A car can do those, and a thousand other things. Oh, and it's not just having a car and a garage. Single family housing means you have your own yard. You have a garage. No one lives above/below/beside you. No landlord. You can customize it any way you want. And you get 100% of the value if/when you choose to sell.

[@beeboreo]

Cars are not freedom for anyone outside of them. They actively take away from others freedoms as they are prioritized through infrastructure. Destroying neighborhoos to put in highways is not freedom. Taking away other freedoms to SAFELY walk or bike to make space for cars is not freedom. Sitting bumper to bumper everyday to go to work is not freedom. Needing a car to get to work because there are no other valid and reasonable mode if transportation is not freedom. Freedom is choice to do it all. Cars are actively the least optimal mode of transportation and it's why we have 10+lane highway that are still packed to the brim​ propaganda, lobbying, and flat out lies is why people think cars are freedom@@bikebudha01

[@bikebudha01]

@@beeboreo wow, that is a lot of words to be wrong. cars = freedom. If they didn't, we wouldn't use them as much...

[@beeboreo]

@@bikebudha01 ah yes we use them the most so they are definitely freedom. Apply that "logic" to anything else and it falls flat. It definitely wasn't large corporations pushing it into dominance. But I'm rereading your post and I'm thinking it's bait that I fell for bad lol

[@bikebudha01]

@@beeboreo no corporation ever forced anyone to buy a car. people have cars so they can get to the ski hill, take their mt. bike to the mountain, go camping, go fishing, go visit friends and family, go on vacation. Can't do any of that (without major headache) without a car.

[@relaxandshhh5752]

Anyone else see the irony that they are sitting in 10,000 sqf room for 3 chairs and a coffee table?

[@MikeHunt-fx9rg]

Burbs till I die. I’ll take a single family home where I have privacy and land over living in a stupid baby city where everyone is on top of each other like all these hippies want

[@reneebaldwin1]

Some People dont like living right on top of someone else. They also dont like the city crime.

[@TVluver2]

I love living in the suburbs! Not everyone wants to live crammed in like sardines! I'll gladly get in my car and drive to the store to buy my milk if it means I get a little breathing room. After having my last suburban neighborhood ruined by the building of a large low-income apartment complex (crime skyrocketed and it became unsafe to walk the streets at night), I was very careful when buying my current home to choose a neighbhorhood that could not be ruined in this way. I found the perfect home in a gated-community that is surrounded on all 4 sides by unbuildable land for at least 15 miles. This semi-rural containment means that the neighborhood is as it was when it was built 50 years ago and guarantees it will remain the same for the next 50 years and beyond.

[@sarahuber8567]

Where I live they are building these quaint multi family homes in planned communities with an urban flair. But they are MORE expensive to rent and buy with HOAs etc than the old 90s mcmansions in the suburbs.

[@mobiledevto]

GUARANTEED these two women live in suburbia, a gated community or both. NO ONE wants to live in the city or intercity given the choice. COVID proved this as the masses exited the cities.

[@bythebleezy2537]

Not true for everyone..plenty of walkable places w a yard to own or rent

[@PerryPerfectPerson]

One lady lives in New York. I doubt it. One lady said she lives in Atlanta for school so I’m guessing she probably lives in suburbia but i also could guess she lives in a near neighborhood with more of a mix.

[@PerryPerfectPerson]

You’re the person every hates. Suburbia is bad. It’s bad for you. The planet. And the poor.

[@mobiledevto]

@@bythebleezy2537 I resent the narrative of everyone should live piled up high on top of each other. They have been saying this for years and a long comes the pandemic and huge numbers of people leave the city because it turns out they had to work in the city. Quality of life goes up. Less hookers on the corners, drug dealers, car theft, assaults, more community and connections with neighbors.

[@bythebleezy2537]

@@mobiledevto lol correlating covid and less crime is just an opinion, where's the data for that. also your generalizing and some suburbs have no community and some cities do have it.

[@robinbirdj743]

Why are they in a huge empty warehouse on $1200 chairs??

[@DoctorOreos]

I like suburban living. Not many inner cities where you can find 3000sq ft house on a 2 acre lot. Also, suburban taxes are much lower, public services are abundant, the school districts are far better than the inner city, nice parks, shopping, and boutiques. Low crime and less drama.

[@faeezparkar9731]

Is public transit accessible? Are they walkable? Can u survive without a car in suburbia?

[@DoctorOreos]

@@faeezparkar9731 Yes and Yes. Suburbia isn’t Rural. Suburbs isn’t the country

[@williamjameslehy1341]

​@@DoctorOreosLMFAO no. Maybe in New England you can live close to a suburbs downtown and get by without owning a car, in towns like Hingham, Barnstable/Hyannis, Plymouth, etc. But in the overwhelming majority of American suburbs, a car is 100% necessary.

[@faeezparkar9731]

@DoctorOreos m not american, but I have seen americans talk about how suburb settlement forces you to own a car. Everything is far apart & there's no liveliness in the neighborhood. Even kids don't go outside to play sports unless their mom drives them kilometers away to a playground. There's a term for it in the US "Soccer mom." All my life in russia, I never felt the need to own a car & our suburbs are mixed use, walkable, which is something I see lacking in the US (except for Nyc)

[@DoctorOreos]

@williamjameslehy1341 You don't know jack about Boston. There is a train that goes from downtown Boston out to the Provincetown. It runs hourly and daily. What is unique about Boston, there's a daily ferry that can take to downtown Boston. Yes, it takes time...but there are public transportation. I rather drive. Boston Metro area isn't a desert or open country. Between Boston and Providence, RI, there's loads of public transportation one can use without living inner city.

[@anitakephart3851]

Did he say live work and shop? As if shopping is essential to human living? That is the problem to begin with. Moving on....

[@1968Christiaan]

Great interview - very good presentation. The biggest "ah-ha" moment was when the architects of Mueller actually moved there.

[@KaylaZone]

Okay but depending how you grew up, we don’t wanna be right next to neighbors and we have dirt bikes, side by side, kayaks, etc. we need a shop and some property for our dogs. This would be good for city slickers though

[@leetcodeking4859]

How does this not have more views? Excellent content.

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

Car dependency and lack of places accessible by walking is like having an expensive paywall behind your basic needs and goals.

[@santiagobydesign]

Wow amazing interview 💯

[@razsbags]

Share existing retrofitted houses near infrastructure to have verandahs, private spaces & shared spaces so there is still a garden to grow food, keep poultry. People used to live with extended families. Share with different ages to help each other. Buy from neighbours & small locally owned businesses. Bring back local corner shops on the hill. Houses should not be built on floodplains. Do not bring in fill that displaces water so lower houses flood more. Wildlife over people.

[@razsbags]

Tourists are more likely to be able to afford to go to restaurants not necessarily the locals. Smaller lot sizes have buildings overshadowing yards. Get your hands in the soil to understand about microorganisms & growing local food.

[@mekon1971]

So this whole video is basically an advertisement.

[@alejandromedina1019]

nothing like 2 Connecticut liberal boomers to inform central planning

[@richatlarge462]

I don't know why people who seem to look down on suburbia are so interested in suburbia. Just live in big cities, if that's your thing. Or in Rural America. People in suburbs move there for a reason, and are generally much happier there than elsewhere. In fact they tend to look down on city life, at least in the US.

[@anatoliagolden-hall4553]

I think it’s because suburbs or city life are the major two options. I, myself, would prefer living in a streetcar suburb. I believe those types of places are the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, those stopped being built a looooong time ago.

[@richatlarge462]

@@anatoliagolden-hall4553 Agreed. Some suburbs try to achieve that vibe artificially, but can't really pull it off.

[@christianchellis9057]

I thought if college is so great why can’t the whole world be more like college. Maybe urbanism and walkability in communities can make our world closer to that.

[@windowlicker4865]

Who said college life is great? Not everything needs to be walkable, but cheap or free, fast, public transport has the same impact of making things seem close when they might not be. I don't need to be able to walk to the grocery store, but it would be cool to have a hyper loop sort of public transport within walking distance, with a bunch of different retail hubs at different stops minutes away.

[@DieNibelungenliad]

​@@windowlicker4865 walking is better than waiting for an overcrowded train or standing at the bus stop for God knows how long

[@karld1791]

@@windowlicker4865shops and offices being close to homes costs both government and individuals less money than building a hyperloop to get the same economic activity.

[@Alypnwcutie]

I like what you said, college is a functioning system .. community spaces, art, green spaces, gardens I see what you’re saying.. I love walking mine the campus is a small town with more opportunities

[@christianchellis9057]

@@Alypnwcutie Thank you. If our cities, towns, communities were more like that they would be so much better. They would be more sustainable, they would be more inclusive. There is so much good as using college as a model for the whole rest of the world. Not to say there are not drawbacks.

[@parkscars6459]

looking to the same people who caused these problems and refuse to acknowledge the real problem (the debt fueled spending of future generations money by a whole generation) is not the answer. very professionally assembled video, but complete waste of time.

[@mtadams2009]

I would rather die than live in those homes you all think are so wonderful. I want nothing to do with living stacked on top of one another like that. I guess it’s how the younger generation wants to live, which is good. I love having my multiple acre home and being alone. My property is super quiet, peaceful and low stress. Lots of actual nature.

[@dsdwtn5911]

Excellent discussion. There is a silver lining for some of this. It's ironic that these very issues are now driving many people back to the urban core. At least in the "renaissance cities". Myself and my kids (in their 20's) separately have all moved into our urban core (Cincinnati). This type of development would be a good discussion as well. As with anything there are pro's and con's. We enjoy the easy access to museums, parks, entertainment and sports. All this can be done by walking or streetcar. Not to mention the beautiful architecture we get to experience every day.

[@cmdrls212]

meanwhile there are not enough suburban homes as people fight for the best place to live

[@StevenHughes-hr5hp]

Those houses look urban not suburban. The suburbs have large yards. Not pseudo row houses. Only someone from Manhattan would view that as suburbia.

[@richatlarge462]

Obviously as many people can afford suburban life as are currently paying to live in suburbia. The two reasons prices have gone up so much are (1) two-income households bid up the price, which causes the need for more two-income households, in a vicious circle, and (2) most people don't like living in the culture of American big cities, at least not once they have children.

[@love_4_life865]

The concept is spot on but the language is nothing short of “utopian”. Red flags I see here are the use of words like “equity” or “policy”. Sounds an awful lot like government overreach….or to be more specific, this “public/private” partnership wanting to create these 15 minute radius “smart cities”. Here’s the thing….I LOVE this concept, it embraces the small village/small town feel and community you see throughout Europe. Little food markets where the food is organically and locally grown as opposed to chain food stores that more often than not contain gmo or highly processed foods. Though I’m not opposed to the concept of bulk item stores like Costco bc they serve their purpose and bulk buying on occasion is cost effective all around. Also, certain generic brands are holding up their value in producing foods that are free of toxins found in most of our food today. Unfortunately, we’ve got the world’s wealthiest aka the 1% having their annual meetings in the Swiss Alps creating blueprints for these “self-sustaining” concepts that unfortunately come with an agenda that has less to do with caring for the planet or the people and more to do with controlling all systems of life. Time and time again, we have witnessed throughout history how the monopolization and consolidation of power creates an imbalance of nature. And when you have the richest in the world advertising slogans like “own nothing and happy” while simultaneously fund our academic and media institutions to repeat the same script using words and euphemisms like “equity social justice, climate change, climate Justice, carbon footprints, etc.”, as “free thinkers”, we are responsible to question everything bc as “consumers” there must be “informed consent”, bc when the 1% is telling us to “own nothing and be happy” what they’re really saying is that they own everything and their “public/private” partnership (big corp/big gov) dictates our “equity”, dictates our income via credit scores and equate surveillance to safety and security, well then, things are not as utopian as they seem. So serious questions for “Freethink”. Does it not strike you odd that the 1% mainly consists of the largest stockholders in gas, oil, bio weapons, pesticides, fertilizers, gmo crops, lab-made food, baby food, pharmaceutical products, weather modification technology, gain of function research, and so on and so forth. Point being, that the very corporations that mass produce their products, from cars, malls, household gadgets, processed foods,plastic, and cookie-cutter suburban neighborhoods are the very corporations building partnerships with governments and creating policies under the guise of “protecting the planet”. Since when has the “world’s financiers and world’s regulators” ever cared about our planet? Isn’t it obvious the only thing they care for is control. But there’s some brilliant strategies and marketing going on here bc how else could one convince the masses to accept living under surveillance systems like these 20 minute cities? History has always shown us how those who hold power have mastered the art of creating the problem and selling the solution. We’ve reached the pinnacle bc the way they’ve managed to destroy our economy via regulations and mass debt. What’s left to barter? Isn’t it obvious? It’s our privacy and freedoms. It’s the public/private partnership aka big gov/big corp (2 sides of the SAME coin) that will introduce this new “policy” under the guise of climate and social justice. The very same entity that helps creat these problems are now pretending to be the solution…but at a horrifying cost. Sorry to burst the utopian bubble but if FreeThink is truly an independent platform and if these professors are willing to dig just a little bit deeper, then perhaps we can take this topic towards an even deeper level! When the 1% pitches a concept (even if it seems to make sense) and the word being used to PUSH policy into LAW is “self-sustainable”, the ONLY thing that is being sustained is their position of power. Bc every law passed has a bylaw that FEW ever bother to read or question its ambiguity! So, first and foremost, there must be informed consent before any sales pitch and even more importantly before any policy is passed that will, without a doubt, impact the liberty and sovereignty of a people. Please do not let this beautiful idea of a TRUELY self-sustaining community be exploited by the same powers that destroyed our natural way of living. This concept is built in our DNA and therefore can be achieved without ANY form of government overreach! Bc government overreach is ALWAYS funded by Big CORP.

[@freeheeler09]

Let’s be blunt. The sprawl in US cities is hideously ugly, and dependence on cars makes living in sprawl expensive in terms of money, health and time. Our cities are built for cars, not people. I’m a fan of 15 minute cities and towns, designing our cities so that schools, jobs, stores, etc., are close to where we live.

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

15 minute cities is literally how cities were built before the mass adoption of cars.

[@datura087]

Exactly

[@Gusthebusisreal]

@@selflesssamaritan6417 explain

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

@@Gusthebusisreal Imagine being so narrow-minded, and lack the inability to fathom how society works. Back then most people walk and cycle, cities were much more compact. Horse and horse carts were more seldom than we thought.

[@Gusthebusisreal]

@@selflesssamaritan6417 no I thought you said 15 min cities caused car centric planning

[@deinblak]

Loved this video! You two ladies are so knowledgeable and totally just get it. Projects like these are exactly the direction we need to take in modern cities and neighbourhoods, completely agree.