Comments on: The Abandonment of America’s Cities http://washingtonindependent.com/35762/the-abandonment-of-americas-cities National News in Context Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:30:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: MiriamJoyce http://washingtonindependent.com/35762/the-abandonment-of-americas-cities/comment-page-1#comment-35204 MiriamJoyce Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:53:56 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=35762#comment-35204 It's been under conversation for a while (<a href="http://www.shelterforce.org/article/657/small_is_beautiful_again/" rel="nofollow">http://www.shelterforce.org/article/657/small_i...</a>) here and there, but it's a very hard thing to implement, even harder to implement well or fairly.<br><br>On the one hand, adapting to new realities makes sense. New ways of using some of this land could be great. On the other hand, it's become clear that vibrant cities, not far flung developments, are the sustainable way to go, and it's too bad that we can't make that transition directly. I think these places will get rebuilt, but it's going to cost so much more if we've let all the infrastructure and housing stock deteriorate first. It's been under conversation for a while (http://www.shelterforce.org/article/657/small_i…) here and there, but it's a very hard thing to implement, even harder to implement well or fairly.

On the one hand, adapting to new realities makes sense. New ways of using some of this land could be great. On the other hand, it's become clear that vibrant cities, not far flung developments, are the sustainable way to go, and it's too bad that we can't make that transition directly. I think these places will get rebuilt, but it's going to cost so much more if we've let all the infrastructure and housing stock deteriorate first.

]]> By: MiriamJoyce http://washingtonindependent.com/35762/the-abandonment-of-americas-cities/comment-page-1#comment-23834 MiriamJoyce Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:53:56 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=35762#comment-23834 It's been under conversation for a while (<a href="http://www.shelterforce.org/article/657/small_is_beautiful_again/" rel="nofollow">http://www.shelterforce.org/article/657/small_i...</a>) here and there, but it's a very hard thing to implement, even harder to implement well or fairly.<br><br>On the one hand, adapting to new realities makes sense. New ways of using some of this land could be great. On the other hand, it's become clear that vibrant cities, not far flung developments, are the sustainable way to go, and it's too bad that we can't make that transition directly. I think these places will get rebuilt, but it's going to cost so much more if we've let all the infrastructure and housing stock deteriorate first. It's been under conversation for a while (http://www.shelterforce.org/article/657/small_i…) here and there, but it's a very hard thing to implement, even harder to implement well or fairly.

On the one hand, adapting to new realities makes sense. New ways of using some of this land could be great. On the other hand, it's become clear that vibrant cities, not far flung developments, are the sustainable way to go, and it's too bad that we can't make that transition directly. I think these places will get rebuilt, but it's going to cost so much more if we've let all the infrastructure and housing stock deteriorate first.

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]]> By: Michael Kelly http://washingtonindependent.com/35762/the-abandonment-of-americas-cities/comment-page-1#comment-23567 Michael Kelly Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:03:21 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=35762#comment-23567 This is not some chilling idea - it makes sense. Cities expand and contract. We have to move beyond this idea that perpetual growth is always good. The planet can't absorb that forever.<br><br>Why maintain utility grids and other services to areas that are depopulating? Controlled and orderly shrinking of cities is a valuable tool.<br><br>I live in Flint, Michigan. Although I was born here, I have lived elsewhere for most of my adult life and returned about a decade ago because if believe in the old saw "think globally, act locally."<br><br>For all our problems, it is an interesting place to live with wonderful people and a great quality of life. No, we don't have a Starbucks on every corner, but I'm never caught in traffic either.<br><br>Housing is amazingly inexpensive and often very high quality. Why are people so often afraid of change?<br><br>relax, folks. Life goes on. This is not some chilling idea – it makes sense. Cities expand and contract. We have to move beyond this idea that perpetual growth is always good. The planet can't absorb that forever.

Why maintain utility grids and other services to areas that are depopulating? Controlled and orderly shrinking of cities is a valuable tool.

I live in Flint, Michigan. Although I was born here, I have lived elsewhere for most of my adult life and returned about a decade ago because if believe in the old saw “think globally, act locally.”

For all our problems, it is an interesting place to live with wonderful people and a great quality of life. No, we don't have a Starbucks on every corner, but I'm never caught in traffic either.

Housing is amazingly inexpensive and often very high quality. Why are people so often afraid of change?

relax, folks. Life goes on.

]]> By: Abandoning houses, abandoning cities « Later On http://washingtonindependent.com/35762/the-abandonment-of-americas-cities/comment-page-1#comment-23541 Abandoning houses, abandoning cities « Later On Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:50:23 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=35762#comment-23541 [...] The Abandonment of America’s Cities [...] [...] The Abandonment of America’s Cities [...]

]]> By: Pete http://washingtonindependent.com/35762/the-abandonment-of-americas-cities/comment-page-1#comment-23520 Pete Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:13:07 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=35762#comment-23520 Call me crazy, but Mr. Shedlock seems to have something of an agenda here:<br><br>"Razing sections of Flint, Detroit, Youngstown, and anywhere else where abandoned buildings blight neighborhoods arguably makes more sense than Obama's idea of pouring money into schools to make them more energy efficient."<br><br>Despite his use of the word "arguably", Shedlock fails to provide any actual argument as to why demolishing whole neighborhoods makes more sense than increasing government investment.<br><br>Taking Flint, MI and Youngstown, OH as examples and then extrapolating some sort of national trend strikes me as pretty obvious cherry-picking (rotten cherries though they may be). Why not just make it three by throwing in Gary, IN? Call me crazy, but Mr. Shedlock seems to have something of an agenda here:

“Razing sections of Flint, Detroit, Youngstown, and anywhere else where abandoned buildings blight neighborhoods arguably makes more sense than Obama's idea of pouring money into schools to make them more energy efficient.”

Despite his use of the word “arguably”, Shedlock fails to provide any actual argument as to why demolishing whole neighborhoods makes more sense than increasing government investment.

Taking Flint, MI and Youngstown, OH as examples and then extrapolating some sort of national trend strikes me as pretty obvious cherry-picking (rotten cherries though they may be). Why not just make it three by throwing in Gary, IN?

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