I am going to take a very exteme stance as to try to fuel some argument about this topic. Think about a classic suburban setting from the point of an alien...
These areas generally degrade city centers making them areas of violence and poverty. They move out in the name of a "better quality of life." But is it really? I have to live in a subdivision or a cloistered neighborhood where people have houses that seem too large for what they may actually need (most likely not using very ecological, but cheap products). The children instead of going to a neighborhood park to play will sit inside and play video games, go on the computer, or watch TV. The neighbors themselves rather keep to themselves and do not generally come together for activities. People in these suburbs may or may not come together in forms of social clubs to discuss issues that may be important to them. The people in this area don't even share things as simple as lawn mowers. And then there's the biggest problem: you have to drive everywhere...even to get to your local conveniences which are huge beyond what they need to be. The suburbs aren't made for pedestrians or even bikes. The suburbs are made for cars.
Anyone ready to return to urban renewal? Or is the suburban system correct? Did I paint a bad picture (probably), but what does this picture tell us?
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3 comments:
Hales Corners makes me shudder. K-Mart is trashy... In my spoiled suburban youth, I've grown accostomed to driving 15 minutes to go to Target because I don't want the K-Mart stigma. At this time in my life, I won't go back. And we talked about the whole footprints theory of the suburbs. I don't know why I'm posting since you know where I stand. Maybe because I don't want to do homework?
Urban renewal will happen, in fact it already has to some extent--look at the 3rd ward in Milwaukee, it may not be much, but it's a start, especially since the night life in downtown Milwaukee is virtually zero.
We know the suburbs are essentially a result of racist concerns about inner-city life following WWII--the first ones were those "cookie-cutter" houses called "Levittowns" where you could only get like 3 types of houses and black people weren't allowed in.
Essentially, it hasn't really changed since then. Instead of cookie-cutter houses, there is a McDonalds, a Home Depot, and a Super Walmart, but driving through, you really can't tell them apart. Furthermore, especially in Milwaukee, people are still retreating at a rapid pace further away in an attempt to avoid the suburbs, which will eventually subject Hwy 100 to look like 27th street.
My view is that with the increase in energy prices and the fact that suburbs are inefficient, we will see a return to urban life at some point in the mid-21st century, when cities will no longer be polluted, but be green, with clean public transportation, bicycles, parks, and minimal smog, and they will be a cheaper and more viable option than living 30 miles away in Delafield. It will be the haven for the green generation and it will be done properly this time.
Also, it is also clear that the south is becoming overpopulated, so with additional global warming, drought, hurricanes, and natural disasters, people will eventually start migrating back to the Midwest in 50-100 years. It won't snow much here anymore and there will not be an over-burdening population of old people to raise taxes. Consider Wisconsin the new Arizona in 2075. (Or at least I hope)
you seem really interested in this topic--perhaps you should take a course in planning/architecture..at UW--i don't know why you torture yourself as a "business" major..look at who you hang out with--you wonder why you can't have debates? you are with business people>>>why aren't you a poli sci major?
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