Making cities worth living in

[Grandpa Troll]

I am in the construction trade, the Ready mix gold Concrete industry.

Any petroleum based product will effect the cost, not just gasoline. This includes Poly, rubber and of course all delivered materials. Gas is but one item in a large gumbo driving the prices higher.

I have been in this Industry since early 1980's and it allways amazes me how industries pull the wool over consumers, heck, increase in one area, sometimes they use this as opportunity to jack up prioces.

I have such a bitter taste from eating the news that Exxon recorded record earning after pasting gloom and doom about availability and reduced production capabilities driving prices upward.

But, that is life and that is real economics attacking our economic growth or lack there of.

Gramps

[GePap]

Originally posted by DanS


Very few have chosen to live in your circumstance. Can you tell me why so many people choose to move from your fair city?

Very few? The City I live in has more people than most states. You have a weird definition of few.

You and this guy must get together to coordinate your asshatery. The differential in prices per square foot residential would be only fractionally impacted by high gasoline prices. Seriously, is basic math beyond you?

Why would residential prices in Cities be so high if no one wants to live in them??? Maybe its because in fact demand is extremely high and the supply very limited, which shows you are, well, DanS?

Its cheap to build out in the middle of nowhere because people find it okay to spend their day driving to and fro, and of course because this country is still half empty.

[DanS]

Why would residential prices in Cities be so high if no one wants to live in them??? Maybe its because in fact demand is extremely high and the supply very limited, which shows you are, well, DanS?

If you go outside of your fair city, you will find that most cities in the US are blighted hellholes with some few bright spots. People consistently are choosing not to live in cities.

Its cheap to build out in the middle of nowhere because people find it okay to spend their day driving to and fro, and of course because this country is still half empty.

The building methods of a city are different and much more expensive than the building methods of the suburb.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by DanS
The building methods of a city are different and much more expensive than the building methods of the suburb.

Q F T

[chequita guevara]

Suburbs are subsidized. If people had to pay the true costs of living in the suburbs, I think less people would chose it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I live in the suburbs and I like it, so nyeh .

I also take the train into work, so it isn't like more expensive gas would bring me back into the city or anything.

And yes, Dan is right. It costs more to build in a city than in a suburb. Building up rather than building out will naturally cost more. And a lot of people rather like having more house and driving a bit more than a smaller place and driving less.

Suburbs are subsidized.

Because cities are not?

[VetLegion]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Suburbs are subsidized.

How are they subsidized?

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by VetLegion
For example in this square, a company wanted to tear down a completely nondescript building (the smallest one in the picture) and build something new and useful (and profitable for them, but that's OK, right?). They were immediately branded as heartless profit-hungry capitalists who want to destroy city heritage and the project is currently oh hold.

I disagree. Pull down the large ugly one on the left and build something attractive. The two older ones in the centre of the picture are worth keeping IMO.

Not too fussed about what happens to the church tbh, but I'm sure many devout Croatians would disagree. :troll: On second thoughts - turn the church into flats. I live in a neo-gothic church conversion and it's cool.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by VetLegion
How are they subsidized?

Suburbsidized.

[Krill]

[q=DanS]This guy's out to lunch if he thinks expensive oil will rescue failed cities. If the oil runs out, then you just use electricity. Problem solved. The suburb continues.[/q]

Am I the only one who sees the absolute stupidity to one side of this satement?

[DanS]

The fact that these things have to be discussed in cities and that the developer may ultimately not be allowed to go forward with the development adds costs to the development. Then you have shakedowns from city politicians, pressure groups, and the like. This assumes that approval can even be given (sometimes, a known mechanism is not in place).

Much of US suburbia is blissfully ignorant of these costs.

[Sandman]

I overheard in the pub that Americans mostly build their houses out of wood. One of those little 'things' which isn't really common knowledge in the UK, but is interesting nonetheless.

Are wooden houses any good?

[DanS]

Yes, US suburbia is almost entirely made out of wood (save the foundation and the basement, if any). It provides excellent value.

This is one of the construction methods to which I alluded earlier.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by DanS
Yes, US suburbia is almost entirely made out of wood (save the foundation and the basement, if any). It provides excellent value.

Until it gets very windy then whooooosh! Not to mention fire.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well, yes, Hurricanes do cause problems, as can fire, but they are usually very good value as Dan points out. Those are just some of the fairly rare risks (especially hurricanes) that have to be dealt with.