Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come • Hacker News Board

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#121

Post by alexandercrohde » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 1:46 AM UTC

namlem wrote: post #88

jimmaswell wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like if all work was suddenly remote, city residency would drop at least 50% in a week. I hope remote eventually becomes the norm. There are probably a lot more like me out there who even in their 20s only work in a metro area solely out of necessity. I have a hard time imagining that all these people I see on HN pining for city living and making suburbs out to be worse than prison are more than a vocal minori…

I don't agree. Super dense cities like New York might fall out of favor, but smaller cities will still be attractive. Being able to walk to wherever you want to go is very nice. In the suburbs you have to drive 10 minutes to get anywhere, which is quite annoying. Maybe that will change once self driving cars become the norm though.

If you want to go to an actual grocery store and you live in a city you're going to spend more than 10 minutes walking. Plus you won't even have access to Walmart, Costco, etc.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#122

Post by purplezooey » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 2:21 AM UTC

jseliger wrote: post #93

athenot wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Affordable housing and good salaries are usually on the conflicting ends of the same scale. A place that has high-paying jobs will have residents out-bidding each other, driving up the prices of the housing market. Conversely, super cheap housing is usually an indicator that there really is no demand from affluent residents. As a counter-point to what I just said, more and more information-based jobs can be done remo…

A place that has high-paying jobs will have residents out-bidding each other, driving up the prices of the housing market Not necessarily; some cities simply build enough to keep a lid on housing prices: https://www.vox.com/cards/affordable-housing-explained/ . Many Texas cities do this and even Chicago does to some extent. Tokyo also does this: https://www.vox.com/2016/8/8/12390048/san-francisco-housing-... . We hav…

Yes especially in the BA. We could build twice as much housing and it wouldn't be enough.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#123

Post by selectodude » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 2:49 AM UTC

s0rce wrote: post #106

selectodude wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The wealthiest school districts in the country tend to be the worst.

Definitely not the case in the Bay Area -- Palo Alto, Piedmont, Orinda are wealthy and have some of the best schools.

Not wealthy residents. Wealthy school districts. LAUSD spends substantially more than Palo Alto per student.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#124

Post by sitkack » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 3:14 AM UTC

selectodude wrote: post #52

sitkack wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

School funds should be distributed equally across the entire population. If we were a democracy, rich neighborhoods wouldn't have better schools.

The wealthiest school districts in the country tend to be the worst.

Could it be that the wealthy in those locations predominately send their children to private schools. Public schools aren't a priority for the super rich.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#125

Post by saosebastiao » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 4:54 AM UTC

alexandercrohde wrote: post #121

namlem wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't agree. Super dense cities like New York might fall out of favor, but smaller cities will still be attractive. Being able to walk to wherever you want to go is very nice. In the suburbs you have to drive 10 minutes to get anywhere, which is quite annoying. Maybe that will change once self driving cars become the norm though.

If you want to go to an actual grocery store and you live in a city you're going to spend more than 10 minutes walking. Plus you won't even have access to Walmart, Costco, etc.

In the 6 apartments I’ve lived in in the 5 years I’ve lived in Seattle, I’ve never had fewer than 3 grocery stores within a 10 minute walk.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#126

Post by saosebastiao » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 5:11 AM UTC

Density wrote: post #96

seppin wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I feel like if all work was suddenly remote, city residency would drop at least 50% in a week. I hope remote eventually becomes the norm. Could not disagree more. (Young) people move to cities for vibrancy, culture, and to be around each other.

Most people aren't young. Raising children in a city is a nightmare.

Speak for yourself. Raising children in the burbs is a nightmare.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#127

Post by grogenaut » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 6:37 AM UTC

saosebastiao wrote: post #126

Density wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people aren't young. Raising children in a city is a nightmare.

Speak for yourself. Raising children in the burbs is a nightmare.

Speak for yourself. Raising children is a nightmare.

(Tho worth it)

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#128

Post by afpx » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 7:44 AM UTC

jseliger wrote: post #93

athenot wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Affordable housing and good salaries are usually on the conflicting ends of the same scale. A place that has high-paying jobs will have residents out-bidding each other, driving up the prices of the housing market. Conversely, super cheap housing is usually an indicator that there really is no demand from affluent residents. As a counter-point to what I just said, more and more information-based jobs can be done remo…

A place that has high-paying jobs will have residents out-bidding each other, driving up the prices of the housing market Not necessarily; some cities simply build enough to keep a lid on housing prices: https://www.vox.com/cards/affordable-housing-explained/ . Many Texas cities do this and even Chicago does to some extent. Tokyo also does this: https://www.vox.com/2016/8/8/12390048/san-francisco-housing-... . We hav…

I don’t want to come across as too skeptical since increased supply will certainly apply downward price pressure. But, I’ve been seeing this argument so often recently that I need to question it. Can you provide contrasting examples of places of similar high population growth where the deregulated ones’ home prices stayed substantially lower than the regulated ones?

I ask this because I believe that demand is the primary influencer of home prices, not supply. I’m open-minded though. So, to challenge my assumptions, I even briefly looked at several of the fastest growing cities of the past couple years (with several in Texas). However, even areas that I assumed had lower regulation and less zoning still had substantial annual price increases.

To me, the only way that you can reduce housing costs is to decrease demand.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#129

Post by afpx » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 7:59 AM UTC

aantix wrote: post #15

don_draper wrote: post #6

Real estate is one of the biggest intergenerational scams ever. Be smart and just buy a cheaper house and then work less. pretty simple

"ever"? We live in an affluent neighborhood surrounded by Doctors and CPAs. Our kids see that every day. That's their normal. And if/when there are major budget changes to the district, who do you think are the first parents in line advocating for their school? You literally buy your kids a chance at a better future.

I’m sure it’s a safe bet. However, 20 years is a long time. And, 2037 will be as different from 2017 as 2017 was from 1987. I suggest hedging your bet by raising kids who are flexible and adaptable.

For instance, when I was a kid, parents who wanted their kids to have a ‘better future’ knew that college degrees were the sure thing. And, we all know how that turned out. 20% of my close high school friends are now low-wage post-docs with $100k in debt.

Re: Millennials to Small Cities: Ready or Not, Here We Come

#130

Post by kakarot » Mon, Nov 06, 2017, 8:51 AM UTC

sscarduzio wrote: post #77

aaron-lebo wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that the same Mexico with 100k+ killed in the drug war since 2005? Maybe it's an unreasonable fear, but conducting business and sticking out as a foreigner seem like a risk.

I’m saying to conduct a 100% online us/eu based business. You get 6 months visa for Mexico anyway. Get yourself an American style condo in Cancún and that’s it. Mexico is not all uniformly violent, unlike US.

It really isn't a bad idea and it's something I've considered, but I imagine you basically tank your chances of meeting a life partner or friends who enjoy the same culture, politics, music, art, food, etc. as you while you're down there. Not a big deal for some people, but a big deal for someone like me who prizes romantic fulfilment and friendship as the ultimate meaning in life.

Also, it would mean giving up a life of civil disobedience and political action, because as a foreigner in Mexico you really shouldn't stick your neck out in the places that need political action the most. To a degree this seems like a very selfish prioritization.