Currently, the future of suburbia is being and has been discussed through many different perspectives. One perspective being restoration and revival of current suburbia[1]; another perspective includes starting over by completely planning new, innovative and creative “suburban cities”[2] and yet another suggests that suburban neighborhoods are either “here to stay”[3] or will just become rundown and rather a ‘lost cause.’ With all perspectives having an argument, what will happen to the existing neighborhoods which have many issues we have discussed? Can we improve these neighborhoods and how? Will they keep declining and become hopeless slum areas? Can they be torn down and replaced with new ideas? Or will they be a ‘lost cause’ and ignored, with new neighborhoods built elsewhere?
My own stance is mostly behind revitalization of existing suburban neighborhoods. The topic of the future history of suburbia is a concern because these are large areas of housing (sprawl) which could become undesirable and unaffordable places to live in the future. If we are concerned with sprawl, we can’t just create a new neighborhood somewhere else saying that it will improve things. That would potentially be considered more ‘sprawl’. However, something needs to be done to renew, revitalize or re-build these areas. They are here, and current, they cannot be ignored. We can’t build new neighborhoods until we solve what exists, current and needs attention.
[1] “Beyond Foreclosure: The Future of Suburban Housing,” last modified September 14, 2011, http://places.designobserver.com/feature/beyond-foreclosure-the-future-of-suburban-housing/29438/
[2] “Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream,” last modified June 9th, 2011, http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2011/06/09/foreclosed-rehousing-the-american-dream
[3] “The Future of Suburbs? The Suburbs are the Future,”last modified October 2nd, 2008, http://www.newgeography.com/content/00300-the-future-suburbs-suburbs-are-future
This is an extremely catching title that makes the reader stop and want to know more! You also do a really great job at briefly touching on the different perspectives of possible futures of suburbia by considering restoration, new, innovative cities, etc. I agree with your last sentence that we should be more thoughtful and concerned with existing neighborhoods and figure out how to create and sustain a successful neighborhood and community instead of just continuing to build more homes, adding to suburban sprawl, and hoping that will fix the problem.
ReplyDeleteHow do you plan to answer the questions you pose and explore your chosen theory on the future of suburbia. Literature review? Have there been previous studies or case studies that you have found that will help to support you stance?
Thanks for the questions Kim. I have a Lit Review (just didn't post it) however my Lit Review consists of several different perspectives and opinions based on earlier statistics and observances- and I have little on actual case studies. Now that you mention it, Case Studies will be very important to justifying my position. So thank you for that question. I plan to answer the questions by documenting several different perspectives and why one (preserving current areas) should be focused on more than the others [with the help of previous studies].
ReplyDeletekrystal and kim good discussion. krystal why don't you post your lit review just so others can see and perhaps use. i think it would be great if you had a case study for each of you perspectives...but to just talk about the number of foreclosures [from previous articles we read in class] and houses turn to rentals = VOIDS that are undesirable...but are here and exists...so revitalizing would perhaps occupy how many of the twenty-somethings that live at home. also think about the trend to rent...perhaps revitalized properties become property of neighborhoods, or the government, that are then rented...highly competitive renters market. look into that developer's utopia article i ended up posting late...BUT most of you did not get around to reading. [week 2]
ReplyDeletethis article may be too specifically related to public affordable housing, but may be useful none-the-less.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theatlanticcities.com/housing/2012/03/future-public-housing-project/1389/
this one too.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theatlanticcities.com/housing/2011/12/nine-reasons-housing-industry-failed/828/