Archive for May 28th, 2007

2007.05.28

Population Density, Oil and Quality of Life

While I disagree with Orson Scott Card on the issue of global warming I cannot disagree with his desire to wean America off of our dependence on oil and his solution: the rise of neighborhoods where automobiles are almost completely unnecessary.

The rising middle class has to go miles from anywhere to find houses they can afford. They hope that when enough of them have moved into an area, somebody will build a grocery store.

But my plan would require the developer to build the grocery store into the plan for the village he’s building right from the start. The streets would all connect; no cul-de-sacs. There would be sidewalks everywhere, and retail close at hand. It would be a neighborhood from the moment you move in.

I’ve always thought population density was important. It creates neighborhoods, it reduces the need for oil and puts more quality of life options (retail, hostpitals, schools, friends, venues, etc) close at hand.

I keep hoping the population density here in San Francisco increases, but the base problem is it’s too bloody expensive here. That and the landlords are (generally) far too greedy for their own good. The cost of living needs to drop or at least remain static for a number of years before that will happen.