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Why do the suburbs suck so much?
- Thread starter smisk
- Start date
There is a lot of variety. Living right outside a city border with access to the same public transportation, the proximity to what the city offered, and lots of the same stuff you might expect from the city was great. But when you get farther out and everything is a nightmare of highways and chain restaurants it sucks.
The older suburbs closer to cities often more like a town you'd want to live in regardless of where it is. Town centers, pedestrian friendly streets, the ability to walk down to the local ice cream place or grocery store, etc. The farther out and newer you go the worst they seem to get.
TakeItSlowDude
Member
Completely depends the suburb, some are terrible with tightly packed houses far out from services, while others are well spaced and back on to large parks and are within walking distance to services. In my home town there has been a recent change from well laid out suburbs with decent sized lots and proportional houses to tightly packed houses with tiny yards and garbage sidewalks. Apartment and condo living is generally terrible unless you have good money, even then buildings are often noisy. For me living on an acreage was best the experience, followed by living in a matured neighborhood (plenty of trees, walking distance to parks and services, quick drive/bus to downtown core).
TarpitCarnivore
Member
I'm assuming OP is definitely talking more about Levittown style burbs where it's just rows and rows of houses with no character or charm, everything is generic and the same(Basically the parts of areas that rise up in 18 months.) Because there are some suburban areas that are not like that and had more organic growth over 30-40 years that offer some semblance of character to them.
yeah pretty much this
yeah pretty much this
Nothing wrong with living outside the city but when we think of the dominant suburban form - wide ass roads, inhospitable for everything but the car, euclidean zoning, single use neighborhoods, ridiculous set backs - that's what I have a problem with. Sure some people like that form and that's fine - people can like what they want but my biggest problem with the suburban form is that they're financially unproductive and suck wealth from productive parts of the city.
I find it funny people talk about bbqs like it's a suburban thing only - I don't think it's the bbq'ing in backyards that people have a problem with.
I find it funny people talk about bbqs like it's a suburban thing only - I don't think it's the bbq'ing in backyards that people have a problem with.
Everything good about the suburbs exists in quiet neighborhoods in cities (of which there are thousands.)
Schools are good in suburbs because that's where rich people retreat to their McMansions.
Proper urban planning could have turned the US into a paradise of garden strewn neighborhoods dotting gleaming metropolises brimming with art and commerce. Instead everything is spread out in the least convenient fashion and millions of people have convinced themselves the good life is living in solitude on one tenth an acre. Sad.
Schools are good in suburbs because that's where rich people retreat to their McMansions.
Proper urban planning could have turned the US into a paradise of garden strewn neighborhoods dotting gleaming metropolises brimming with art and commerce. Instead everything is spread out in the least convenient fashion and millions of people have convinced themselves the good life is living in solitude on one tenth an acre. Sad.
cpp_is_king
Member
My front yard is clean.
Oh wait, I even have a front yard to begin with.
I'm not woken up to the sound of taxi cabs at 7 in the morning.
I can afford a garage big enough to build a full-scale woodshop in.
I can still afford an extra bedroom to build a man-cave in.
No matter where I want to go, I can find parking.
I can afford to buy instead of being forced to rent, so I'm building wealth.
There's almost no crime.
The neighborhood is a tight community, everyone takes care of everyone else and watches out for you.
I could give 2 shits about going clubbing or barhopping.
I'll take Suburbs for 1000, Alex.
Oh wait, I even have a front yard to begin with.
I'm not woken up to the sound of taxi cabs at 7 in the morning.
I can afford a garage big enough to build a full-scale woodshop in.
I can still afford an extra bedroom to build a man-cave in.
No matter where I want to go, I can find parking.
I can afford to buy instead of being forced to rent, so I'm building wealth.
There's almost no crime.
The neighborhood is a tight community, everyone takes care of everyone else and watches out for you.
I could give 2 shits about going clubbing or barhopping.
I'll take Suburbs for 1000, Alex.
Switch Back 9
a lot of my threads involve me fucking up somehow. Perhaps I'm a moron?
Where did you grow up if you don't mind me asking?
Goro Majima
Kitty Genovese Member
I'm loving the suburbs again after living in an urban area. I can't remember the last time I had anyone ask me for money or something when I used to get approached every other day even inside the grocery stores. Don't feel the need to keep my head on a swivel either.
I don't miss the noise, traffic, lack of parking, paying for parking at many places (valet only where they park your car 2 feet away in a huge ample lot), microsized parking spaces when you do get to park, or the huge "downtown" price tax on most goods and services especially things like gas.
Give me that soulless suburb where I can drive to Walmart and back in light traffic and only get harassed by Girl Scouts selling cookies.
I'm 35 and married so it's probabaly a life stage thing too.
I don't miss the noise, traffic, lack of parking, paying for parking at many places (valet only where they park your car 2 feet away in a huge ample lot), microsized parking spaces when you do get to park, or the huge "downtown" price tax on most goods and services especially things like gas.
Give me that soulless suburb where I can drive to Walmart and back in light traffic and only get harassed by Girl Scouts selling cookies.
I'm 35 and married so it's probabaly a life stage thing too.
Lunarwhale
Member
Kind of depends on the suburb area. Technically, I live in a suburb of Detroit, but it's one of the more... community-driven ones, I guess you could say. Has its own unique and decently-sized downtown area, tons of independent small businesses, not really sprawl-y at all. There are a couple of others in the area like it, but then you got places like Troy, which are more the stereotypical suburbs with no real town center, lot of chain places everywhere, and just a constant sprawl of spread out business centers and overpriced neighborhoods.
I'd like to live in a more vibrant city, but the cost of living seems to be a bit much most places that I would actually like to live.
I'd like to live in a more vibrant city, but the cost of living seems to be a bit much most places that I would actually like to live.
Howard Ballou
Member
OP I hung out in Old Town Manassas Friday night and had a great time. Had dinner and drinks outside while watching a band. But if you're looking for more, being near a Metro station is probably ideal.
When buying a house, my choices were:
-Downtown apartment: no yard, no space, weird quasi-ownership, and crowded. But walking distance to anywhere, always active, intriguing, and constantly changing.
-Suburban home: decent yard, neighbors, open space, <15 minutes drive to anywhere. But it's rather homogenized, not much activity at all, and I can't walk to anything.
-Rural: Massive open land, noone within shouting distance, total peace and nature. But forget having any sort of nightlife or interesting stores or restaurants...hell, almost everything over an hour away.
Yeah, of those choices, if I were 22, I'd go with Downtown. Since I was 32, Suburban living was far more the right pace. And I don't even have kids...
What I don't understand are those housing tracts/suburbs with little to no yard, and complete repetition of buildings.
-Downtown apartment: no yard, no space, weird quasi-ownership, and crowded. But walking distance to anywhere, always active, intriguing, and constantly changing.
-Suburban home: decent yard, neighbors, open space, <15 minutes drive to anywhere. But it's rather homogenized, not much activity at all, and I can't walk to anything.
-Rural: Massive open land, noone within shouting distance, total peace and nature. But forget having any sort of nightlife or interesting stores or restaurants...hell, almost everything over an hour away.
Yeah, of those choices, if I were 22, I'd go with Downtown. Since I was 32, Suburban living was far more the right pace. And I don't even have kids...
What I don't understand are those housing tracts/suburbs with little to no yard, and complete repetition of buildings.
Unless you absolutely love to garden, yards are terribly over-rated. I have a deck and paved porches and a nice sitting area and I don't have to mow a lawn that I won't ever use.
OP, move to One Loudoun or RTC. More like cities, less like suburbs, cheaper than Alexandria or Arlington.
OP, move to One Loudoun or RTC. More like cities, less like suburbs, cheaper than Alexandria or Arlington.
mostly none of the positives or negatives of urban or remote living and a bunch of other bullshit
- ostracization can hurt you more
- old boy network
- """"""close-knit community"""""
- town ordinances designed around accommodating unstable soccer moms
- having regular, awkward interactions with semi-familiar people that are a level between randos and your outer social circle
- increased chance of larry david type shit
mario in mario kart. yes, i'm on the spectrum. go walden or go to the hood
- ostracization can hurt you more
- old boy network
- """"""close-knit community"""""
- town ordinances designed around accommodating unstable soccer moms
- having regular, awkward interactions with semi-familiar people that are a level between randos and your outer social circle
- increased chance of larry david type shit
mario in mario kart. yes, i'm on the spectrum. go walden or go to the hood
This thread comes up all the time, and it's always a hot button issue like tipping. It's because you are young, go out (probably with friends) often, and don't have a family.
I'm fine with the suburbs because my wife and I don't go out much. Our jobs are real close. We don't have a huge group of friends, and they're all married or have kids anyway. When we hang out with people, we'll go out to dinner and then have drinks at one of our houses. It's comfy but not as exciting or spontaneous as downtown living. Nothing is walkable (aside from some nice trails behind the neighborhood), but we don't mind. Everything we need is real close by car and parking is plentiful. I like being able to load up a trunk's worth of groceries or Costco supplies and be done with it. We're within an hour of the city, mountains, beaches and our whole family. It's not for everyone and it's certainly not the most efficient city planning, but we like it. I never feel the tortured hell or crushing depression many gaffers in the suburbs talk about. *shrugs*
I'm fine with the suburbs because my wife and I don't go out much. Our jobs are real close. We don't have a huge group of friends, and they're all married or have kids anyway. When we hang out with people, we'll go out to dinner and then have drinks at one of our houses. It's comfy but not as exciting or spontaneous as downtown living. Nothing is walkable (aside from some nice trails behind the neighborhood), but we don't mind. Everything we need is real close by car and parking is plentiful. I like being able to load up a trunk's worth of groceries or Costco supplies and be done with it. We're within an hour of the city, mountains, beaches and our whole family. It's not for everyone and it's certainly not the most efficient city planning, but we like it. I never feel the tortured hell or crushing depression many gaffers in the suburbs talk about. *shrugs*
Yeah I should actually check out Old Town one of these days, I've heard good things. It's not like there's nothing good about the suburbs, Fairfax has a nice, but small, downtown as well.
old
Member
Pizza night! What do you want? Your options are Papa Johns, Dominos, Marcos, Little Caesars and Pizza Hut.
And if you drive to the next neighborhood you'll find the same 5 exact stores.
SolidusDave
Member
Really depends where and how you live. I live in Singapore and it's clean, green, modern and has animals. But let David Attenborough tell you:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5...rden-city-scene-1080p_school?forcedQuality=hq
Virtually no crime either. The condo area I'm in swallows all the noise of the busy streets/malls 5-10 min walking away. I love my super quiet apartment.
I honesty can't tell if you're serious!
SoRuffShoNuff
Member
Cities are great for young people without kids or are affluent enough to afford private school. Hate to say it but in most instances inner cities have awful schools. My wife and I live in the city now with a 9 month old and we are having a house built in the suburbs. We couldn't send our kid to the local schools without feeling like we are committing child abuse and the private school is way out of our price range.
We also are looking forward to having land again as both of us grew up in the suburbs and are used to having our own back yards and space to live. And boy we cannot wait to get away from the traffic. Getting into traffic just to go to the damn grocery store gets old quick.
We also are looking forward to having land again as both of us grew up in the suburbs and are used to having our own back yards and space to live. And boy we cannot wait to get away from the traffic. Getting into traffic just to go to the damn grocery store gets old quick.
Dead serious.
biggersmaller
Banned
I have a wife, 2 boys, and a dog. How much would a 3 bedroom home with good public schools cost? I'll tell you. A fucking lot in a urban setting.
Sure I lack the walkable coffee shops, neighborhood bars, and unique shops. However, in the suburbs I have a fenced yard for the dog. A 4 bedroom / 4 bath home. Extremely well rated schools. And for a fraction of the cost. And honestly, we love our neighbors. They are some of our best friends.
Sure I lack the walkable coffee shops, neighborhood bars, and unique shops. However, in the suburbs I have a fenced yard for the dog. A 4 bedroom / 4 bath home. Extremely well rated schools. And for a fraction of the cost. And honestly, we love our neighbors. They are some of our best friends.
Andrew Korenchkin
Member
We should all go electric with our vehicles.
To each his own. Your lifestyle is so radically different than mine we might as well be on different planets. I can't imagine getting pizza at 3am, or living next to a store. Living in a big city would give me major anxiety.
Grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, went to college in rural Pennsylvania, and now live just outside center city Philadelphia. The suburbs are definitely the worst. Rural living wasn't bad, because you really did feel isolated from the rest of the world, which could be really nice at times, but the city is definitely the best.
Switch Back 9
a lot of my threads involve me fucking up somehow. Perhaps I'm a moron?
If I ever have to live in a place where there's a pizza joint across the street that's open at 3am I'll kill myself.
Same here. The suburbs has the best balance because you're still reasonably close to good food OR nature. It's much quieter, and still affordable.
This, there's so many areas of D.C. you could be living that aren't that. Of course that means you have to deal with the horrible goddamn rent but if that doesn't bother you.
Personally I live in a Suburbany area near DC but it's really a few minutes from a Metro and we also have a car. Rent is way lower and one of the benefits is I have the ability own and operate a goddamn grill in a yard.
themaskedndi
Member
I don't think I could ever go back to living outside of a city, even if it would save me money. For me, being in a city is a massive leap in terms of quality of life. Most things I need or want are in walking distance, there are always things to do, and the overall culture here is great. People are so positive and accepting.
If I ever leave Minneapolis, it would be for a city bigger than this one. I strongly recommend moving to a city if you can swing it!
If I ever leave Minneapolis, it would be for a city bigger than this one. I strongly recommend moving to a city if you can swing it!
I like my little piece of suburbia. I have a non chain sushi, Italian, and American place along with a Starbucks a 5 minute walk from my door. I can walk to a presidential library. I can also go on a good road or mtn bike ride from my house or drive 10 minutes for a nice hike. If I lived closer to LA I would be paying the same amount for a noisy unkept shithole of an apartment. I'll take a 45 minute drive into town to see a band over being in traffic when ever I want to go anywhere.
Three reasons:
First is the people, who tend to be boring. Lots of families, few younger people. Less vitality. This also means a smaller market for third spaces.
Second is their proximity. They're next to a big urban centre. People often work there too. It's vitality brain drain.
Third is the planning. Sprawl makes for communities that aren't walkable or mixed use. No street life, low density to support local businesses,
First is the people, who tend to be boring. Lots of families, few younger people. Less vitality. This also means a smaller market for third spaces.
Second is their proximity. They're next to a big urban centre. People often work there too. It's vitality brain drain.
Third is the planning. Sprawl makes for communities that aren't walkable or mixed use. No street life, low density to support local businesses,
Tbh if anyone literally thinks city life means you have to live across from a pizza place open until 3am, you don't ~get~ city life. Hell Philadelphia has a law which requires stores in residential areas close by like 10 or 11pm, for example.
JordanN
Banned
Well you can actually afford to live in them so that's a plus.
In Canada, they actually go for a million dollars.
Our house in the suburbs is about a mile away from a subway stop that goes directly into Boston. We have neighbors who have lived here forever and are generous and friendly. No HOA. Quiet. Schools are good, though no plans for kids. Basically no violent crime. 5-10 minutes away to tons of restaurants, stores, and a bustling little downtown area.
I'm quite satisfied with the suburbs, though not all are created equal. I remember being appalled at a boyfriend's childhood home because it was in a lifeless block of HOA McMansions. Those suburbs blow ass. But there are suburbs that have a pretty good mix of urban and rural, and those appeal to me.
I'm quite satisfied with the suburbs, though not all are created equal. I remember being appalled at a boyfriend's childhood home because it was in a lifeless block of HOA McMansions. Those suburbs blow ass. But there are suburbs that have a pretty good mix of urban and rural, and those appeal to me.
I think personality is a huge factor too. Even if I was single, I think I would prefer the suburbs. Pouring myself a drink, sitting down in my office, firing up Steam, cracking open the window and feeling the nice (silent) air on a Friday night after work is infinitely more appealing than walking downstairs and being near restaurants and bars. I enjoy personal time and space way too much. I'm introverted that way.
I'm mostly talking rent though.
Kite
Member
I kinda disliked how boring the suburbs were growing up there, but now I really want to move back there, city living is overrated. Having more things to do doesn't make up for the urine-scented trashy streets, getting harassed by drunks and homeless, everything being much more expensive, the feeling of being crowded and surrounded by noisy inconsiderate fucks, the crime and more rude and lower-class people. Being able to bike to the nearest halal food truck or to get groceries doesn't make up for all the bs.
Roronoa Zoro
Gold Member
I live about 40 minutes from Pittsburgh. Nice city because it has everything you want in one without the ridiculous cost and traffic
Nice center about 20 minutes from me too on the way to the city
Nice center about 20 minutes from me too on the way to the city
baxter2231
Member
eBay Huckster
Member
on this note, there's a lot of cities that had streetcar systems leading to what are now inner-ring suburbs, or "streetcar suburbs" (my hometown of Cleveland Heights is one of those over on the east side of Cleveland - here's a map of the old lines)
they generally have 1) road systems that actually fuckin' make sense, 2) a lot of housing with very walkable retail/schools/libraries nearby, and 3) a decent amount of socioeconomic diversity compared to both inner cities and outer-ring suburbs
they're generally really good options when you can't afford to live in the city proper, don't want to live in more cramped spaces, and/or actually want a yard
DukeSilverHaze
Banned
The burbs are full of trump voters, no thanks.