Expanding the habitat of the endangered American yuppie

September 9, 2007 3:46 PM | | Comments (611) | TrackBacks (0)

Color me unimpressed with the breathless tones of this week's NYT Magazine piece on the selling of urban condos to generally single and childless younger adults.

The article in a nutshell: thanks to exotic mortgages and rising incomes for the upwardly mobile college graduate, more young people are buying condos. Fair enough. However, the focus on this article is about how these new condos are configured and marketed. Somebody discovered that the young and childless, unafraid of the predators of all stripes suburban moms and dads see around every bucolic corner, want to meet their neighbors. The traditional common areas of a common area (pool, rec room, etc) are underutilized because they are tucked away in basements or on roofs, so a new generation of condos has placed these facilities front and center with good results. Even more shockingly, these condos are being sold as places where young people can meet one another and (gasp!) perhaps find a date.

Since when is this a new trend? The fact that people want to live where they can ask their neighbor to walk their dog in a pinch is not revolutionary. Nor is it revolutionary that people would give up time in the den for socializing in a central neighborhood square. The aberration is the suburban layout of the last half-century, which essentially destroys neighborliness.

Jane Jacobs said as much nearly 50 years ago in The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Complex multiple-use areas, density and activity on the street, she argued, create a virtuous circle by which people look after one another and create a sense of community. Without this, human interconnectedness can only be recreated by driving from private space to private space, socializing with only the people who have chosen the same spaces.

As for the Times article's comparison of these condos to dorms, it may be apt, but for the wrong reasons. It is fashionable these days, as witnessed by the reaction to Knocked Up, to lament the extended adolescence of young people. But later marriage ages is simply a return to normal after a post-WWII dip.

0 TrackBacks

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Expanding the habitat of the endangered American yuppie.

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.smorgasblog.com/cgi-bin/mt/smtb.cgi/3253

611 Comments

By wdjpb hyowpj on February 25, 2008 2:49 PM

soaynfet xtiosabc uqsfnyer cmqdsulop qfapv xqlz vuqardbng

By allegra on February 25, 2008 7:32 PM

Very good site. Thank you:-)


By allegra on February 25, 2008 7:32 PM

Very good site. Thank you:-)


By allegra on February 25, 2008 8:14 PM

Very good site. Thanks!


By allegra on February 25, 2008 9:16 PM

Good site. Thank you!!


By amaryl on February 26, 2008 1:46 AM

Nice site. Thank you!!!


By amaryl on February 26, 2008 2:13 AM

Very good site. Thanks!!!


By amaryl on February 26, 2008 2:28 AM

Nice site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on February 26, 2008 4:22 AM

Cool site. Thank you:-)


By amoxicillin on February 26, 2008 4:27 AM

Good site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on February 26, 2008 6:45 AM

Useful site. Thank you.

By in on February 26, 2008 8:53 AM

Good site. Thanks.


By of on February 26, 2008 11:00 AM

Useful site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 26, 2008 11:14 AM

Nice site. Thank you.


By of on February 26, 2008 12:45 PM

Cool site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 26, 2008 1:28 PM

Useful site. Thanks!!!


By in on February 26, 2008 3:25 PM

Useful site. Thanks.


By the on February 26, 2008 3:34 PM

Good site. Thank you.


By of on February 26, 2008 4:22 PM

Nice site. Thanks!!!


By of on February 26, 2008 4:37 PM

Useful site. Thanks:-)


By in on February 26, 2008 4:44 PM

Useful site. Thanks!!


By of on February 26, 2008 5:50 PM

Good site. Thanks:-)


By of on February 26, 2008 5:51 PM

Good site. Thanks:-)


By of on February 26, 2008 5:57 PM

Good site. Thanks.


By of on February 26, 2008 6:02 PM

Cool site. Thanks!!!


By of on February 26, 2008 6:02 PM

Cool site. Thanks!!!


By in on February 26, 2008 8:56 PM

Good site. Thank you.


By of on February 27, 2008 12:41 AM

Very good site. Thank you!


By of on February 27, 2008 12:45 AM

Good site. Thank you:-)


By of on February 27, 2008 12:48 AM

Very good site. Thanks:-)


By of on February 27, 2008 1:36 AM

Good site. Thanks!!!


By in on February 27, 2008 2:31 AM

Useful site. Thanks!


By of on February 27, 2008 5:59 AM

Useful site. Thank you!


By of on February 27, 2008 8:39 AM

Nice site. Thanks:-)


By of on February 27, 2008 12:59 PM

Very good site. Thanks.


By of on February 27, 2008 2:16 PM

Useful site. Thanks!!!


By of on February 27, 2008 2:20 PM

Cool site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 27, 2008 2:33 PM

Nice site. Thank you!!


By of on February 27, 2008 3:25 PM

Cool site. Thanks:-)


By in on February 27, 2008 5:52 PM

Nice site. Thank you!


By the on February 27, 2008 6:00 PM

Cool site. Thank you!


By the on February 27, 2008 6:00 PM

Cool site. Thank you!


By of on February 27, 2008 7:34 PM

Very good site. Thanks:-)


By the on February 27, 2008 8:26 PM

Cool site. Thank you!!


By of on February 27, 2008 9:23 PM

Good site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 27, 2008 9:59 PM

Very good site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 27, 2008 10:37 PM

Useful site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 27, 2008 11:31 PM

Useful site. Thank you!


By of on February 28, 2008 12:43 AM

Useful site. Thank you!


By of on February 28, 2008 2:17 AM

Very good site. Thanks!!!


By of on February 28, 2008 2:41 AM

Cool site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 28, 2008 2:51 AM

Useful site. Thanks!!!


By in on February 28, 2008 3:55 AM

Good site. Thank you!!


By of on February 28, 2008 5:12 AM

Nice site. Thank you!!


By of on February 28, 2008 5:57 AM

Nice site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 28, 2008 8:45 AM

Cool site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 28, 2008 9:53 AM

Cool site. Thank you!


By in on February 28, 2008 12:05 PM

Good site. Thank you!


By of on February 28, 2008 12:11 PM

Very good site. Thanks!!


By of on February 28, 2008 12:59 PM

Useful site. Thank you!!!


By in on February 28, 2008 3:46 PM

Useful site. Thanks.


By of on February 28, 2008 6:50 PM

Very good site. Thanks!!


By the on February 28, 2008 10:29 PM

Useful site. Thank you!


By in on February 28, 2008 10:35 PM

Useful site. Thanks!!


By in on February 28, 2008 10:35 PM

Useful site. Thanks!!


By of on February 28, 2008 11:05 PM

Good site. Thanks!


By of on February 28, 2008 11:05 PM

Good site. Thanks!


By of on February 29, 2008 12:26 AM

Good site. Thank you!!


By in on February 29, 2008 12:36 AM

Useful site. Thanks:-)


By of on February 29, 2008 12:54 AM

Nice site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 29, 2008 1:50 AM

Useful site. Thank you.


By of on February 29, 2008 2:32 AM

Very good site. Thank you.


By the on February 29, 2008 3:49 AM

Cool site. Thanks.


By of on February 29, 2008 4:44 AM

Nice site. Thank you!


By of on February 29, 2008 4:44 AM

Nice site. Thank you!


By the on February 29, 2008 5:36 AM

Very good site. Thanks!


By of on February 29, 2008 7:10 AM

Cool site. Thanks!!


By of on February 29, 2008 8:28 AM

Cool site. Thanks!


By of on February 29, 2008 10:54 AM

Very good site. Thank you:-)


By of on February 29, 2008 10:54 AM

Very good site. Thank you:-)


By of on February 29, 2008 12:47 PM

Nice site. Thanks.


By of on February 29, 2008 3:27 PM

Cool site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 29, 2008 3:33 PM

Very good site. Thank you:-)


By of on February 29, 2008 5:03 PM

Useful site. Thank you!!


By of on February 29, 2008 5:16 PM

Useful site. Thanks:-)


By of on February 29, 2008 6:05 PM

Very good site. Thank you!!


By of on February 29, 2008 6:08 PM

Good site. Thank you!!!


By of on February 29, 2008 6:14 PM

Useful site. Thank you:-)


By of on February 29, 2008 6:14 PM

Useful site. Thank you:-)


By of on February 29, 2008 6:43 PM

Useful site. Thanks!!!


By of on February 29, 2008 7:44 PM

Good site. Thank you!!


By of on February 29, 2008 8:37 PM

Very good site. Thanks.


By of on February 29, 2008 8:37 PM

Very good site. Thanks.


By of on February 29, 2008 8:38 PM

Nice site. Thanks.


By of on February 29, 2008 9:53 PM

Useful site. Thank you:-)


By of on February 29, 2008 11:40 PM

Useful site. Thanks:-)


By of on March 1, 2008 12:38 AM

Very good site. Thank you!!


By of on March 1, 2008 1:53 AM

Cool site. Thank you:-)


By of on March 1, 2008 2:12 AM

Good site. Thank you:-)


By the on March 1, 2008 2:49 AM

Good site. Thank you:-)


By the on March 1, 2008 2:49 AM

Good site. Thank you:-)


By the on March 1, 2008 3:28 AM

Good site. Thank you.


By the on March 1, 2008 3:29 AM

Good site. Thank you.


By in on March 1, 2008 7:38 AM

Useful site. Thank you.


By in on March 1, 2008 7:42 AM

Useful site. Thank you.


By of on March 1, 2008 8:22 AM

Very good site. Thank you!!!


By of on March 1, 2008 11:00 AM

Nice site. Thanks:-)


By of on March 1, 2008 11:01 AM

Nice site. Thanks:-)


By of on March 1, 2008 12:47 PM

Good site. Thank you:-)


By of on March 1, 2008 2:17 PM

Cool site. Thanks.


By of on March 1, 2008 2:18 PM

Cool site. Thanks.


By of on March 1, 2008 4:01 PM

Cool site. Thank you!


By of on March 1, 2008 5:24 PM

Good site. Thank you!!


By of on March 1, 2008 6:33 PM

Cool site. Thank you!


By of on March 1, 2008 6:57 PM

Good site. Thank you:-)


By amoxicillin on March 1, 2008 9:08 PM

Nice site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 1, 2008 9:11 PM

Useful site. Thank you!!


By amoxicillin on March 1, 2008 10:30 PM

Nice site. Thanks!!


By amoxicillin on March 1, 2008 11:53 PM

Cool site. Thanks!!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 1:00 AM

Useful site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 1:18 AM

Cool site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 2:47 AM

Good site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 3:56 AM

Useful site. Thanks.


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 3:56 AM

Useful site. Thanks.


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 4:58 AM

Very good site. Thanks!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 5:18 AM

Useful site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 9:04 AM

Good site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 10:08 AM

Cool site. Thank you!!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 10:22 AM

Cool site. Thanks!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 11:35 AM

Useful site. Thank you!!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 2:36 PM

Very good site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 2:45 PM

Cool site. Thanks!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 7:45 PM

Good site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 8:19 PM

Very good site. Thank you!!!


By amoxicillin on March 2, 2008 10:18 PM

Very good site. Thank you!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 12:36 AM

Nice site. Thank you!!!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 1:14 AM

Cool site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 1:48 AM

Cool site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 3:11 AM

Good site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 4:10 AM

Cool site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 4:51 AM

Nice site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 6:04 AM

Cool site. Thanks.


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 6:11 AM

Nice site. Thank you!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 7:17 AM

Nice site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 8:20 AM

Very good site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 9:54 AM

Nice site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 9:55 AM

Nice site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 1:57 PM

Cool site. Thanks.


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 2:24 PM

Good site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 5:13 PM

Good site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 8:02 PM

Good site. Thanks!!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 8:46 PM

Very good site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 9:41 PM

Nice site. Thank you!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 9:50 PM

Cool site. Thanks!


By amoxicillin on March 3, 2008 10:53 PM

Good site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 12:17 AM

Cool site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 12:17 AM

Cool site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 12:48 AM

Useful site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 12:48 AM

Useful site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 1:22 AM

Nice site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 4:13 AM

Cool site. Thanks!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 5:03 AM

Cool site. Thank you!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 5:18 AM

Cool site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 6:23 AM

Cool site. Thanks.


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 6:52 AM

Very good site. Thank you:-)


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 7:04 AM

Useful site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 8:36 AM

Very good site. Thank you!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 9:07 AM

Cool site. Thank you!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 9:17 AM

Cool site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 10:15 AM

Good site. Thank you!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 12:22 PM

Useful site. Thank you!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 12:23 PM

Nice site. Thank you!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 1:57 PM

Good site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 3:42 PM

Cool site. Thank you!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 4:38 PM

Cool site. Thanks!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 5:17 PM

Nice site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 5:18 PM

Nice site. Thanks:-)


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 6:43 PM

Useful site. Thank you!!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 7:15 PM

Cool site. Thank you!!


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 7:39 PM

Cool site. Thank you.


By amoxicillin on March 4, 2008 8:07 PM

Nice site. Thank you:-)


By amoxi