Possible?: More millenials want liveable neighbourhoods, more transit, etc.

[jyyanks]

I work in NYC where public transportation/walking/biking is the preferred mode of transportation. The issue is that there is no space. So if a family wants the urban lifestyle and space, they will have to either shell out multiple millions of dollars for a bigger apartment or move to the suburbs where cars(suvs) are the preferred mode of transportation. Very few families can afford to live in Manhattan because of the cost of real estate and the cost of schools. My boss spends $40,000 dollars a year for PRESCHOOL!!!!! Unless your salary is outrageously high, living in the city once you have a family is not financially feasible unless you are willing to give up things like space and are willing to go to the public school closest to your residence. Some schools are better than others so the ones who are in the not so great schools have to pay for private education or move to the burbs. I'd be curious to see what its like elsewhere!

[Irulan]

Transitions to more liveable/walkable/smaller, less suburban communities has been underway in some locales for some years now.

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, your niece doesn't need a car to live in Cambridge. The city where my son lives now, in his apt. is right next to Cambridge. However, as a medical intern, her boyfriend probably needs a car for the late night shifts at the major teaching hospitals in Boston. Our public transportation stops running at midnight.
My DIL grew up in Boston. However, her parents gave no thought to the quality of the schools. She missed getting into the prestigious "exam" school by one point on the exam, for secondary school, had a horrible year as a 7th grader, where she was beaten up and called all kinds of racist names. On her own, she got herself into a Friend's School for gr. 8, with a scholarship, and then to an arts oriented private school for high school, where she had to travel 2 hours to get there. My son is well aware that the city where they bought their home is not where he would want his kids to go to school. They probably would move again before any child reached school age. It will be a huge adjustment for DIL, although by then, they should have enough money to move to a close in suburb, with public trans, better schools, and a decent "downtown" area. I know she feels like where we live is sort of like a vacation.

[shootingstar]

My boss spends $40,000 dollars a year for PRESCHOOL!!!!!

Wow, especially if that's for just 1 child.

Well, Crankin it's actually my nephew in Cambridge. He used to the shlepping along using transit and subway. Lots of medical interns would need a car at times, to deal with their crazy long shiftwork.

However I believe Grog's hubby when he was a medical intern, he cycled to work at times from downtown Vancouver area ...to a hospital in the 'burbs for him to build in fitness in a busy schedule.

[Crankin]

Same thing happens here, with the crazy tuitions for preschool. There's a private school at the foot of my street that charges 30K for preschool.
However, there are plenty of good quality preschools that are normally priced.
Just not in the city.

[westtexas]

So I guess I'm considered a "millenial" (what a dumb name) and I would have to agree. I'm moving back east and rather than live out in the suburbs where I will have to commute in to work, I'm willing to sacrifice space for the convenience of being close to everything. I'm looking at high rise apartments right now that sit within a few blocks of the rail line (it only goes up and down one street haha) so I can ride it to work instead of driving. I will keep my car though so I can trek out to the 'burbs where my folks live (25 miles away but still in the same city...).

But, I am single and have no children. And although I like driving for long trips, I despise having to get in the stupid car to go 5 miles to run errands or whatever. Where i live now walking/biking around town is impossible. Looking forward to a more close-in lifestyle when I move this summer.

It's what I want. But possible or not? Everything costs money and that's always the bottom line when it comes to these things.

[Kiwi Stoker]

When we moved last year we rented a car and drove 10km radius out from DH's work and then figured out what area looked OK to live in. We could of chosen areas near the beach etc but we decided having DH only 10 minutes drive from home was a prioirty. I really don't undertstand people who commute for an hour or more to get to work.

Criteria-

Had to be near a supermarket or other store so can walk to get milk etc.
Walking distance for a library or near a bus route to a library.

This way we are able to live with one car.

However after 2 years in Singapore and apartment living I am NEVER going to advocate living in apartments for families- especially children. You don't see kids playing or enjoying themselves in Singapore. They are stuck inside or at tution classes.

In Melbourne I have never seen so many parents and kids out and about- picnicking, riding bikes, walking, playing games. I'm sorry but we all need a patch of dirt or courtyard to just walk outside in.

Forget intesnive living, I think medium density of townshouses with a large courtyard should be the minimum for families with easy access to parks. High rise living is just awful.