Is It Time to Stop Building Suburbs?

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References & More Info:
Cost of Suburbs:
Protecting Rural Sarasota:
Mixed Use Development Location in Sarasota:
Sarasota 2050 Plan:

Chapters:
0:00 Old Miakka
2:18 Financial Problem
3:15 Housing Design
6:11 Lack of Options
7:41 Reimagining
10:47 Brilliant
11:59 Original Plan
14:36 Existing Infrastructure
15:49 Local Elections

[Streetcraft]

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[FBWalshyFTW]

This video is a great example of how suburban-style development doesn't have to suck. The sad thing about the US is that it equates suburbs with sprawl and anti-human car-centric design: This doesn't have to be the case!

I actually like the suburbs (I just bought a home in one). But whenever I ask for more pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, so many Americans look at me like I want every city to be NYC with 20-story high-rises. Now I can show them this video to explain what I want, so thank you for making it.

[Marconius]

You didn't even mention public transit in this: traditional suburbs have basically no place to put a bus, but in the new layout presented, that town square would be a perfect place to have a bus stop. And if you have multiple neighborhoods like this right next to each other, you could eventually connect them with a tram quite easily as well; allowing people to visit places other than just their own little community, which makes room for even more diversity.

[SeanA]

I’ve probably left a comment before, but this is basically the ideal argument for zoning reform. It won’t force you to change your lifestyle, but it’ll open up new lifestyle opportunities for those looking for something different. This is something that I think is much more practical in America without going full Netherlands bike and train network

[AlexTurpin]

I _need_ the "reimagining" chapter as a YouTube short, I always try to explain what it would look like to friends

[cletuswa]

9:31 Ngl, this neighborhood looks like an absolute dream, although mindbogglingly rare (and as a result, expensive) in the US.

[agrud]

7:00 "just because you might want to live in a single family suburban home, doesn't mean that building other housing types is gonna take away your single family suburban home. Instead it opens up more options for more people."


Ugh, so obvious. So perfectly said.

[murdelabop]

The real problem with car dependent suburbs is that they have the disadvantages of both urban and rural areas and the advantages of neither.

[travisrose]

Another absolute banger from Streetcraft, this will be my new intro video to "orange-pill" my friends on why suburban development is so unsustainable. Your motion graphic design in the videos makes it SO CLEAR on alternative solutions to the land-use issues we face.

Thank you for your work! Keep up the great content!

PS - the "walkable & bikeable & liveable" sticker on your Etsy shop is straight 🔥

[kookamunga]

I live in the suburbs. I can't go for long walks because there are very few sidewalks and there are too many bicycle -haters . Riding bicycle is scary in the suburbs because suburbanites thinks bicycles and cyclists are stupid. I plan on moving closer to city limits .

[cabbagenut]

I've seen so many suburban homes that are run down and poorly maintained by the overworked people who bought them. Most of us don't need that space, and in fact cannot take care of a big yard and an expensive car. Why should we all have to live like that?

[glio]

I can't get over how good your graphics are for explaining concepts. The two versions of a new development on empty land were fantastic. I also appreciated how you went to a real place in person and heard from people there. That goes a long way to making these concepts land.

[Urban_Man]

do not stop building suburbs, stop building car centric suburbs

[ratsorizzo]

There are already countless urbanist channels that pretty much preach the same thing (Allan Fisher, City Nerd, Not Just Bikes, etc.). However, this is the only channel that is not entirely condescending towards the concept of suburban living. The fact of the matter is that suburban living (regrettably) is the most practical and financially attainable mode of decent living for the American middle class whether we like it or not. This channel seems genuine in its attempt to educate its viewers that we can at least make suburban living more enriching through design, but all the while not alienating the people (suburban dwellers) that probably need to hear it the most.

Thank you Streetcraft for making these videos. Can't wait for the next one!

[swalloich]

I don't think I've ever seen a video that so perfectly articulates what I want in a neighborhood. I like driving and want to own a car, but driving everywhere is expensive. I'd love to be able to live in a neighborhood that has small stores and restaurants nearby, while still preserving the ability to drive further when I want to. Great job, man.

[BrysonTheTomato]

streetcraft has to be my favorite urbanism channel right now. Channels like not just bikes seems to just complain, but this channel actually talks about real solutions. Good work guys!

[illhaveawtrplz]

This is an incredible video. The balance you strike between educational infographics, storytelling, and actionable advice is fantastic. Keep doing what you’re doing, Streetcraft. If you’re a viewer like me, write to your local governments about these issues, it’s better for everyone!

[paulrobbins]

You've earned a sub, these are some of the best videos I've ever seen exploring this topic. I get tired of the snarky, self-righeous tone of a lot of the YouTube urbanists, so your very balanced, sensible, easy to understand explanation of these things is a real breath of fresh air. The animations and presentations are really helpful to, you've done a great job making urban planning and zoning reform understandable, and I love how your whole vibe is wanting to suggest solutions to make improvements to our towns and cities instead of just criticizing how they've been built or the lifestyles of people living in them. Keep up the great work!

[leonfinanciero]

The problem with suburbs in US cities is that markets, shops, cafes etc are located very far from homes, so people are forced to use cars just to go buy bread.

To solve this, you have to put the shops, markets, cafes etc close to homes, close to houses, this way people will only need to walk to buy their food, because the shop, market, cafe etc will be close to their house, and in this way the use of cars will be very low and the streets will automatically be designed and focused on people, with large sidewalks, TOWN SQAURES, parks etc etc, where people meet and spend pleasant moments and meet new people. etc

BRING THE MARKETS, STORES, CAFES ETC VERY CLOSE TO HOMES, AND NO ONE WILL NEED TO USE CARS ANYMORE.

[Arjay]

"People like living in the suburbs"

Well no, not exactly. People like living in their own home. Now where that home is or what form that home takes that varies a lot, yeah a good chunk of people like living in detached homes with yards, but not all of them. If there were also a lot of duplex, triplex, rowhomes, 2, 3 and 4 story multifamily homes and apartments built, then the people that don't feel like they NEED to live in a detached home with it's own separate yard, would choose to live in those homes instead, especially since those homes are cheaper.

There isn't anything inherently wrong with single family homes, the issue arises when it essentially is the only choice for someone that wants a home.