tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post8557645745217216752..comments2024-03-28T16:21:30.329-04:00Comments on Patricia Abbott (pattinase): My Town Detroit-20 Minute Neighborhoodspattinase (abbott)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-40864489384148642822016-06-20T22:58:43.225-04:002016-06-20T22:58:43.225-04:00Yep. I live in an inner city suburb of Adelaide in...Yep. I live in an inner city suburb of Adelaide in South Australia (it's in the ring of suburbs outside what you guys would call Downtown - there's a ring of parklands between us and that). I've got a decent medical centre, 2 supermarkets, multiple small speciality shops, the local council's head office which also houses a community hall/theatre that is well used,, a post office, a cinema, 4 bank branches, several dozen cafes and restaurants, and 5 really nice parks and a public swimming pool all within 20 minutes walk, There's also a campus of a Catholic primary school and a government primary school also within the same radius. The nearest high school is probably just outside the 20 minute walk but it is on 2 different bus routes which are well served. Most importantly for me there's even a book shop and a library within the same radius. My home is small - in a block of units - but it has everything I need and I can live with the noisy neighbours and lots of traffic which are other downsides of living in higher density areas. I am actively involved with the local residents association - a block of which wants people like me - people prepared to live in medium or high density living rather than the quarter acre blocks which most of our city is full of - to disappear. But we are slowly winning. At present I still have a car which I need for work and for visiting my elderly father and taking him to medical appointments but there will come a point when I won't need it (ride shares and Uber have not taken off here yet but they will). The area is a mix of residents - some government housing, a lot of students, some 'old families in their $2million dollar homes and a bunch of people like me. I love it all. Bernadettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07641617609801125707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-62651670020152343712016-06-20T11:03:53.003-04:002016-06-20T11:03:53.003-04:00I see your point, Tim. Always a problem. But Detro...I see your point, Tim. Always a problem. But Detroit has no upper middle class at all. The idea would be to get it some, I think. The average Detroiter has no car. They are stuck in neighborhoods hollowed out by poverty, horrible schools. pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-1847299672138034552016-06-20T10:45:24.946-04:002016-06-20T10:45:24.946-04:00I wonder if it is really possible to roll back the...I wonder if it is really possible to roll back the calendar to what is an essentially 19th century model for communities. I applaud the optimism and idealism in such urban renewal projects but have concerns about the costs, feasibility, and common sense. I recall the gentrification of Pittsburgh. The improved areas improved, but the displaced populations went to other neighborhoods which soon became blighted and ignored by community leaders. But, hey, the gentrified upper middleclass people were happy in their cozy little reclaimed neighborhoods.RTDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113953356514605424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-14361053462264694942016-06-20T08:43:19.956-04:002016-06-20T08:43:19.956-04:00For the non-Starbucks lovers, I should add that we...For the non-Starbucks lovers, I should add that we have several independent coffee places too.Jeff Meyersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00093411926030586355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-5444953809828609922016-06-20T08:26:18.010-04:002016-06-20T08:26:18.010-04:00My suburban Detroit neighborhood almost does. Once...My suburban Detroit neighborhood almost does. Once I walk about a mile-everything on this list is there. But within that mile, there is nothing. In GP, we had it. But no movies within 10 miles. Here there are three theaters within ten minute ride. pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-85757467507856493502016-06-20T07:42:36.115-04:002016-06-20T07:42:36.115-04:00Well, our neighborhood certainly fits the profile....Well, our neighborhood certainly fits the profile. It's a three block walk to the avenue, and if we wanted to we could get anything we need in that area - two elementary schools and a high school, dozens of restaurants, bars, banks, drug stores, parks, all kinds of doctors, you name it. The movie theater is a little outside that walking distance (say, 30 minutes rather than 20). We even have three Starbucks!Jeff Meyersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00093411926030586355noreply@blogger.com