Following up on the more scholarly efforts
of others, I suggested that urbanism might be an element of the 21st century American
Dream for many. Reading my words almost
18 months later, I think my key paragraph was:
“I’m unsure that the universal American
Dream of the next generation which will be an urban life, but neither were
small farms or suburbia the universal American Dream of past generations. However, I believe fervently that an urban
life will be the American Dream for some. I also believe that those who find fulfillment
in an urban life will bring particular creative value to our communities.”
The theme of the changing American Dream
continues to recur in discussions of urbanism.
First, the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. opened an
exhibit on the history of house and home in the U.S., with thoughts that urban
homes might soon have a role in the American Dream. Emily Badger of Atlantic Cities offered an overview of the exhibit.
Next, GenConnect produced a video of Peter
Calthorpe, well-known urban planner, talking about the changing American
Dream. Calthorpe specifically notes the policy
changes made by Portland, Oregon twenty years ago and the positive results that
have resulted from redirection toward urbanism.
Adding to
this trend, some are pointing to “The End of the Suburbs: Where the American
Dream is Moving” as the most influential urbanist book of 2013. Author Leigh Gallagher postulates that there
is a fundamental change underway in the American style of living, with folks
increasingly relocating to walkable urban settings.
Gallagher
didn’t set out to write a book about the end of the suburbs. Instead, her goal was to write about changes occurring
in the U.S. as a result of the Great Recession.
But she soon found that the key change underway was a move toward
cities. Furthermore, although many have
suggested that the urban trend is a temporary result of the recession and will
disappear as the economy improves, Gallagher came to believe that the
relocation is more fundamental and was underway before the economic hard times.
In her
introduction, she cites facts that show how suburbia is dwindling and reasons
why that may be so. She notes the flawed
suburban model, the dwindling oil supply, the environmental concerns around
fossil fuels, and the love of many Millennials for urban settings.
Furthermore,
she identifies the financial sustainability issues around suburbia, writing at
length about StrongTowns’ Charles Marohn.
I’ll return
to the “The End of the Suburbs” at another time for a more comprehensive
review. Today, my only intention is to
identify Gallagher as the latest in a line of observers who have spied the
American Dream deserting the suburbs for the urban core. And to be cheered by that trend.
As always,
your questions or comments will be appreciated.
Please comment below or email me.
And thanks for reading. - Dave Alden (davealden53@comcast.net)
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