Comments on: City Living in the ‘Burbs

By: Art Sellers

Art Sellers — Wed, 10 May 2006 03:38:28 +0000

I live in NE Minneapolis and drive through Roseville quite often – and I just noticed they’re starting to put in sidewalks in some spots! That’s quite a concept, why don’t you take note Eagan, Lakeville, and other indistinguishable suburbs! Nevertheless, I’ll gladly take my old house with its lead paint, outdated kitchen, and unfinished basement before moving anywhere sub-suburban

By: Reno Dakota

Reno Dakota — Tue, 09 May 2006 12:28:13 +0000

I would live under the Franklin Street bridge before I ever considered a townhome in Eagan. I would go without heat or food. In the words of Mark, the character in Rent, said when wondering aloud why he lives in a East Village loft with no heat and no money for food:

"I often ask myself why I live here. Then they call and I remember."

It's a mentality thing. Do you want to be surrounded by people who would sacrifice a little for art or politics or love of the city? Or would you be content surrounded by cookie-cutter town home dwellers who are content with the local multiplex selections?

By: Brian...

Brian... — Fri, 05 May 2006 02:50:04 +0000

On the whole commuting to work shorter distances, I recently read that about half of the residents of the city of minneapolis who work commute outside the city to work. So living in the city of minneapolis may not make one commute shorter distance.

On housing prices, well, the average or median price of a house in minneapolis is less than the metro area as a whole. I'm not sure what the comparison would be when price per square foot is involved.

For the record, I live in the city of minneapolis.

By: spaceman

spaceman — Thu, 04 May 2006 17:25:59 +0000

again, 10 years ago there was A TON of housing in the city for under 100K. Punch in some random addresses on the city website and look at the propety valuations.

And to clarify, I'm not arguing for living one place or the other - to each there own . . .

By: bob

bob — Thu, 04 May 2006 17:15:05 +0000

"I can't afford what I want with x,y, and z variables"

Where x = food, y = heat and z = any entertainment that doesn't involve things I found on the street.

For me and other people I know, it's not a matter of not being able to afford it, it's a matter of not being able to justify it.

In my case, I have a modest house right next to a school in Monticello. Ten years ago, it ran me less than $100k. For as much as I'd like to live in the city (too many reasons to list), I just can't justify it.

By: spaceman

spaceman — Thu, 04 May 2006 17:02:58 +0000

Matt W, you are right in a certain sense. I understated the importance of financial considerations. But I also don’t believe people when they say “I really want to buy in the city but can’t afford it”. Usually, what they mean is “I can’t afford what I want with x,y, and z variables”.

If I have just demonstrated by link that it is possible to buy for about 185K in the Minneapolis, but it is not a condo — isn’t it correct to say that it must be another reason you bought where you did other than you can’t buy a piece of property for 185K? Sorry, I think I’m making this tedious.

By: bob

bob — Thu, 04 May 2006 17:02:57 +0000

Monticello is way out... but here's what I've noticed lately: The sidewalks, trails and whatnot are not intended for practical use. They're meant for taking walks or riding your bike for the sake of being outside. If you intend to do any commerce while outside your vehicle, the sidewalks are of no use to you.

Want to walk that movie rental back? You can take the sidewalk most of the way but you'll have to compete with vehicle traffic at an intersection and walk on the road to enter the parking lot.

That's just an example. On the whole, it's easier to do commerce via drive-through than on foot.

By: Matt W

Matt W — Thu, 04 May 2006 16:46:51 +0000

MLH, you are correct. I don’t think that cookie cutter townhomes are a good long term investment. That said, I’m going to be in this city for 2 years max before I get moved again, so I’ll take the short term windfall. But even as a medium term investment, homes in the ‘burbs have been doing pretty well…

spaceman, does my cognitive dissonance comment sound completely nuts to you? Because it is no more incorrect and ridiculous than the sweeping generalization you made about why I chose to live in the ‘burbs. That is a damn fine nice looking house though…why the hell didn’t my realtor take me by there when I told her I ideally wanted to live in the city?

By: spaceman

spaceman — Thu, 04 May 2006 16:23:59 +0000

right, Matt W, that's why I also said type of housing. "Trust me, I'd live in the city if it was an option, but when you can afford a $185k piece of property" . . .

yeah, you are right, I misused the term, but you get my point . . . cognitive dissonance about living in the city? Far from it.

By: MLH

MLH — Thu, 04 May 2006 15:39:02 +0000

That's great and all, but the townhomes in my neighborhood are going for 7-10% over what I paid 8 months ago.

Wait five years. Or do you plan on moving around the suburbs into brand new houses every 8 months? There's no decent equity in suburban townhomes. Full houses, maybe, but the giant prefab townhome complexes are the current/future suburban ghettos (depending on how new they are).