The hoped-for futuristic dystopia of an over-paved wasteland of burned-out ticky-tacky boxes populated by meth skeletons, feral children & people who still have a job at WAL*MART may soon be a subject of the
subversive left-wing Islamo-fellators of Hollywood, but as usual, our fantasies seldom get beyond the fantastic stage. (Which is just as well.)
“Aerial #65″ by Sarah McKenzie. (Courtesy of the artist) [And The NYT.]
The opportunity to show you the arcitecture-become-art illustration above (Dig the shadows, the sun is setting!) led us to wonder vicariously — Allison Arieff, Editor at Large of
Sunset ("The Magazine of Western Living")
did the actual wondering — about the less fantastic fate of sub- & ex-urban development, especially the newest & unfinished enclaves.
We won't rake the trendily-typing Ms. Arieff over the coals concerning her lousy syntax:
The problem now isn’t really how to better design homes and communities, but rather what are we going to do with all the homes and communities we’re left with
But we do question her hope that people will remain in the suburbs. Come on.
I still dream that some major overhaul can occur: that a self-sufficient mixed-use neighborhood can emerge. That three-car-garaged McMansions can be subdivided into rental units with streetfront cafés, shops and other local businesses.
In short, that creative ways are found not just to rehabilitate these homes and communities, but to keep people in them.
Just Another Blog (From L. A)™ is ideologically semi-aligned w/ some in the comments who argue for burning the suburbs for firefighter training. As far as we're concerned, any training is frosting on the cake. Burn it all!!
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