ChevyChaseDC
Cyburbian
- Messages
- 190
- Points
- 7
From Planetizen: http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special27/
Overall, I'm underwhelmed by this special report. Comparing the Phoenix of today to Philly is comparing apples to oranges. I think comparing metro areas in their entirety is a far more valid comparison because of such fundamental structural differences between the Sun Belt and old cities of the North.
In that regard, Greater Philadelphia still dwarfs the "Valley of the Sun" (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler) and its demographics are far more favorable in comparison.
I think that while Philly proper has steadily shrunk, that trend has slowed, and will eventually turn around. Its density and infrastructure are conducive to vast amounts of rehabilitation of old buildings. It's far more conducive to walking and transit than sprawling Phoenix.
Overall, I think Philadelphia and its ilk are more sustainable in the long term than Phoenix, which at its present rate of growth is environmentally and economically unsustainable. I think the growth Phoenix is a symptom of an American problem. Which city do you think will be affected more in the event of a spike in oil prices?
Overall, I'm underwhelmed by this special report. Comparing the Phoenix of today to Philly is comparing apples to oranges. I think comparing metro areas in their entirety is a far more valid comparison because of such fundamental structural differences between the Sun Belt and old cities of the North.
In that regard, Greater Philadelphia still dwarfs the "Valley of the Sun" (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler) and its demographics are far more favorable in comparison.
I think that while Philly proper has steadily shrunk, that trend has slowed, and will eventually turn around. Its density and infrastructure are conducive to vast amounts of rehabilitation of old buildings. It's far more conducive to walking and transit than sprawling Phoenix.
Overall, I think Philadelphia and its ilk are more sustainable in the long term than Phoenix, which at its present rate of growth is environmentally and economically unsustainable. I think the growth Phoenix is a symptom of an American problem. Which city do you think will be affected more in the event of a spike in oil prices?