Quality of Life in Suburbia
I live in a growing suburb. Growth always creates tensions; people want to preserve their quality of life. But quality of life means different things to different people.
My neighborhood is a very nice neighborhood, with good schools and well-maintained houses. It's a desirable area to live in, and as a result, more houses are being built in the area. But unlike other suburban neighborhoods I've lived in before, this neighborhood lacks any retail. To pick up a gallon of milk, buy a latte, grab a pizza, or even mail a letter, I have to get in my car and drive at least two and a half miles.
As do all the other people who live on this hill, and all the people moving here. Yet there is resistance to the idea of putting any retail on this hill, out of fear it will degrade our quality of life. The fear is it will bring more traffic to our neighborhood.
I don't think retail will bring more traffic. I think all the houses being built will bring more traffic, because all of those people will also have to buy groceries, mail letters, rent videos, buy a latte. I think allowing some retail on our hill will decrease traffic. Being able to walk or bike to a grocery store to pick up a loaf of bread means fewer car trips. Limited retail isn't going to bring people from off the hill up here.
I'm not talking about Costco or Home Depot, but well-chosen retail can enhance the quality of life in suburban neighborhoods, by giving the neighborhood gathering places. Getting people out of their cars gives people a chance to interact.
Prior to moving here, I lived in a suburban neighborhood that incorporated retail. The businesses were at the perimeter of the neighborhood, but easy walking or biking distance. There were 6 grocery stores within a mile and a half of my house. Frankly, the traffic here is a bigger pain than the traffic in my old neighborhood, because there's no avoiding it here.
The houses are already going up. If you want to stop growth, you have to start earlier in the process. Not building infrastructure to support the houses that have already been allowed enhances nobody's quality of life.
My neighborhood is a very nice neighborhood, with good schools and well-maintained houses. It's a desirable area to live in, and as a result, more houses are being built in the area. But unlike other suburban neighborhoods I've lived in before, this neighborhood lacks any retail. To pick up a gallon of milk, buy a latte, grab a pizza, or even mail a letter, I have to get in my car and drive at least two and a half miles.
As do all the other people who live on this hill, and all the people moving here. Yet there is resistance to the idea of putting any retail on this hill, out of fear it will degrade our quality of life. The fear is it will bring more traffic to our neighborhood.
I don't think retail will bring more traffic. I think all the houses being built will bring more traffic, because all of those people will also have to buy groceries, mail letters, rent videos, buy a latte. I think allowing some retail on our hill will decrease traffic. Being able to walk or bike to a grocery store to pick up a loaf of bread means fewer car trips. Limited retail isn't going to bring people from off the hill up here.
I'm not talking about Costco or Home Depot, but well-chosen retail can enhance the quality of life in suburban neighborhoods, by giving the neighborhood gathering places. Getting people out of their cars gives people a chance to interact.
Prior to moving here, I lived in a suburban neighborhood that incorporated retail. The businesses were at the perimeter of the neighborhood, but easy walking or biking distance. There were 6 grocery stores within a mile and a half of my house. Frankly, the traffic here is a bigger pain than the traffic in my old neighborhood, because there's no avoiding it here.
The houses are already going up. If you want to stop growth, you have to start earlier in the process. Not building infrastructure to support the houses that have already been allowed enhances nobody's quality of life.
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