Believe it or not, there was a point where the U.S. could have reversed its current course of sprawling development. As we all know, American cities are designed for cars, not people. Or, more accurately, people in cars. From World War II until now, extensive road systems, parking lots, and sprawling, single-family home development has been the norm.
The law of unintended consequences impinges. The car is indeed the problem. The consequences of designing for car use as the dominant means of getting around are horrendous.
Right now it’s very normal for an affluent family to buy a custom home and fill it with furniture from Ikea or KMart. But, the stick frame house being built today has little that is custom built about it. Hopefully, we are not far off a revolution in the housing market that could provide affordable housing for all. The revolution will likely come with the opportunity to buy a beautifully finished house off the shelf and place it on rented rather than purchased land. Hopefully we will see the disappearance of the two car garage, the driveway and the road out front, and the advent of communal garaging within walking distance. The result could be suburbs without subdivision. This will require adjustments in the planning system. Planners will have to get out of the way. Abandon zoning and allow people to generate work closer to where they live or the live closer to where they work.
If this comes with smaller mortgages, easier resale, reduced house price inflation and enhanced mobility for workers, national productivity will be enhanced. We will all be much better off.
The law of unintended consequences impinges. The car is indeed the problem. The consequences of designing for car use as the dominant means of getting around are horrendous.
I describe an alternative here: https://erlhapp.substack.com/p/against-the-public-interest
Right now it’s very normal for an affluent family to buy a custom home and fill it with furniture from Ikea or KMart. But, the stick frame house being built today has little that is custom built about it. Hopefully, we are not far off a revolution in the housing market that could provide affordable housing for all. The revolution will likely come with the opportunity to buy a beautifully finished house off the shelf and place it on rented rather than purchased land. Hopefully we will see the disappearance of the two car garage, the driveway and the road out front, and the advent of communal garaging within walking distance. The result could be suburbs without subdivision. This will require adjustments in the planning system. Planners will have to get out of the way. Abandon zoning and allow people to generate work closer to where they live or the live closer to where they work.
If this comes with smaller mortgages, easier resale, reduced house price inflation and enhanced mobility for workers, national productivity will be enhanced. We will all be much better off.