cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/6669422
A new housing development outside Phoenix is looking towards European cities for inspiration and shutting out the cars. So far residents love it - The Guardian
The apartments are also mixed in with amenities, such as a grocery store, restaurant, yoga studio and bicycle shop, that are usually separated from housing by strict city zoning laws.
Wait, it’s actually forbidden in (much of) the US to have grocery stores etc. close to where people live? WTF?
It is, the YouTube Channel NotJustBikes explains the issue in a few videos “housing that cannot be built in America” or something like that
This one :)
The Lively & Liveable Neighbourhoods that are illegal in Most of North America - Not Just Bikes: https://youtu.be/bnKIVX968PQ?si=7tIT7yD5iw_s5vUe
Exactly, thanks!
Most places have zoning laws and do not typically mix commercial zones into residential zones, yes. There is no law requiring grocery stores to be some distance from residential properties.
It’s to make big auto and big car happy by forcing us to use their products as much as possible
This is kind of overblown. I live in the Phoenix valley suburban sprawl and there are shopping centers mixed with the suburban zones every 1 mile at major intersections. I can already ride my bicycle to yoga, bars, restaurants, and grocery within easy range. These discussions use Phoenix as examples of bad design but I really don’t get it and ride my bike all the time anyway. There are canal paths and stores spread out everywhere in the suburbs.
I live in a walkable neighborhood in Montreal, Quebec. It’s fantastic. Everything close by at a 15-20min walk depending on what I get.
Lots of second hand goods stores, bulk goods as well and fruits and veggies, butchers, fish mongers, groceries, pharmacies, and bars and restaurants. Etc. It’s excellent.
Montreal has excellent areas! Miss that city a lot.
@cyborganism @Blaze I love that local people walk around and go to small shops in Montreal. I enjoyed it last year when visiting. Years ago Manhattan was mostly like Montreal now. But shops are disappearing in New York City and many people just hole up in their homes and offices and have their snacks and toys delivered. Deliveristas on bikes everywhere.
Yeah I can see that trend starting here as well.
People walking late at night, particularly if they are Black, are regularly accosted by police – in June, the city of Kaplan, Louisiana, even introduced a curfew for people walking or riding bikes, but not for car drivers.
You can take the cars out of America, but it’s still America
Did not read the article as is tradition but not shit sherlock that people like to be able to walk without the noise and pollution of vehicule everywhere and not forgetting the risk of getting hit by a massive weapon because someone is doing a tiktok dance while driving
Do trees not grow in Phoenix? If I lived in such a hot place I’d want as much natural shade as possible
They do and the cities around the valley here often provide free trees to homeowners and have programs where they are trying to fill in as much as they can with shade. Some subsidized by the power companies I believe, to reduce power consumption by putting shade next to homes. I ride my bike a lot around the city here and there are a lot of sections with fantastic tree cover on paths and parks. Of course there are also barren sections, but trees can grow well and it is discussed often locally to plant them.
I’m all for walkable places but most walkable cities that I’ve lived in have trees everywhere. I couldn’t see many in those photos. Also those buildings look like a housing project.
It’s Phoenix. Desert.
cheap easily buildiable housing is a good thing but yes I agree completely with the trees. Makes such a difference
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is it just me or are all the pics in that article extremely unflattering
Yeah they needed some overview shots or at least a map or something.
Can’t expect to mimic the curbside aesthetics of the model walkable-city when you’re dealing with 100+ degree heat for a third of the year.
Neighborhoods of this ilk can be found in cities such as New York City and San Francisco but are often prohibitively expensive due to their allure
So it’s just rich people in expensive major cities then? Cool.
Well, they don’t really have to go anywhere… so.
❤️
I find it interesting that despite all the ways we can dunk on yanks, yanks do seem to be genuinely interested in walkable cities. All the walkable cities are so expensive because they are high-demand areas. CHUDs may like to dunk on San Francisco or New York, but they’re expensive because they’re desirable.
For all the whining about “freedom”, CHUDs sure do love forcing Americans to live in a way that they don’t want to live.
Ha! Buddy of mine who lives around those parts: “Great if you are a rich work from homer who can pay at least 3k for rent and use the community Uber discount to go grocery shopping since there is no grocery shop in there”
who can pay at least 3k for rent
So you are saying this type of development is so sought after that they are able to set rent at higher rates than the surrounding “parts” and still get enough tenants despite the “inconvenience”?
Also yeah according to the article, the nearby amenities include a grocery store. It’s not an apartment complex, it’s a walkable town.
Sounds amazing until a north east winter happens. Then I want my car
