[Culturechat] A washingtonpost.com article from: samovar9@aol.com

[Gerald J. Clancy, Jr.]

I've been really busy the last few days but I wanted to thank Paul for this 
reference. An excellent article and, I think, right on the money. This 
"urbanization of suburbia" is happening all around me. Our own town, a 
typical bedroom community that grew up with the main Amtrak station but 
without any core, is now about to start the development of a town center. 
And Washington Township, a close community, is about half done with a 400+ 
acre development with its own town center incorporating stores and 
sidewalks everywhere. No need to drive.

The motivations described are also right on, particularly the lack of 
desire to move back to the city (and it didn't even mention crime) and the 
desire to "stay near the kids."

The most cogent line, early in the piece, is, "Once we acknowledge this 
reality [that suburbs are here to stay], we can turn to the task of making 
the best of it." Exactly.

Fighting windmills is the alternative. Great piece.

Jerry

At 09:53 AM 2/7/2005, samovar9@aol.com wrote:
>You have been sent this message from samovar9@aol.com as a courtesy of 
>washingtonpost.com
>
>  Personal Message:
>  Despite Kunstler's warnings, suburbia is more popular than ever not just 
> in the US but in Europe and Asia as well.
>
>  Rule, Suburbia
>
>  By Joel Kotkin
>
>    The battle's over. For half a century, legions of planners, urbanists, 
> environmentalists and big city editorialists have waged war against 
> sprawl. Now it's time to call it a day and declare a victor.
>
>  To view the entire article, go to 
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A364-2005Feb5.html?referrer=emailarticle