Author Archive

Quantity-Quality-Cost, Which do you choose?

December 28th, 2009

Note: Morgan Andenas is back with us from Montana State during her winter break.  Many of you will remember her blog posts from this summer when she focused on architectural and design issues.  Welcome back Morgan. 

As an architecture student, we study how the character of a place helps to define and shape the homes, buildings, and businesses surrounding it.  The way the land is formed, whether it is mountains, prairies or woodlands, influences the shapes of buildings.  In the same way, the people’s attitudes about themselves and about a place influence the way buildings are designed.

A friend asked me to design a forever-home for her and her husband on his family’s ranch, one in which they will live, well, forever.  They wanted a house at or under 2200sq. feet with two bedrooms, one maybe two bathrooms, a lofted office, and enough room for a 14 foot dining table and lots of space for entertaining his large family.  I thought to myself, no problem, that’s easy enough.  That was before I tried to design it.  The bedrooms and living room ended up being too big and looked uncomfortable, even though they were average sized rooms. 

That’s when I realized “average” size applied to large suburban lifeless McMansions.  This type of house is what Sarah Susanka writes against in her book, The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka (Taunton Press, 2001).  She describes the early 2000s housing boom as,

So many houses, so big with so little soul.  Our suburbs are filled with houses that are bigger than ever.  But are bigger houses really better?  Are the dreams that build them bigger or is it simply that there seems to be no alternative?  Americans are searching for homes in unprecedented numbers.  Yet when we look, the only tools we seem to have are those we find in the real estate listings.  But a house is more that square footage and the number of beds and baths.  In one of the wealthiest societies ever, many people are deeply dissatisfied with their most expensive purchase. ”

 

Quality vs. Quantity

I started reading her book and it all became clear.  It wasn’t about making a McMansion big enough to house 25 people, it was about providing a home for the two people living there, and an opportunity to host the other 23 several times a year for parties.  It was about deciding that when cost is a set number, quality and quantity are your two variables.  You can choose to have a higher quality house with a smaller footprint that is more responsive to your needs, or you can choose to have more square footage with less quality and spaces that are more generic.  For this couple, it was about quality.

When I start thinking about my forever-home, I want it to be in a rural setting where people are not out to impress, but to welcome.   In both my home and my future children’s hometown, I want it to be a place that will feel cozy, welcoming and comfortable.  I don’t want it feel like a typical McMansion: cold, extra large and built to impress its occupants and visitors.

Susanka says that she is not out to sell everyone a small house, and I’m not out to get everyone to live in a small town.  But, I do want to illustrate that not everyone is happy in that comfortless house or that impersonal city.  Just because you can afford to buy and maintain that massive house, does not mean you are happy.  What does make me happy is attention to detail and feeling like I belong to something bigger than myself.  For me, a small town does just that.  For me, living in a rural community gives me the best ratio of the Quantity-Quality-Cost triangle.  In this specific triangle, cost and quantity may be lower, but the quality is worth the quantity sacrifice. 

This massive house was built to impress, not welcome, with its soaring roof and columns and manicured lawn.

This massive house was built to impress, not welcome, with its soaring roof and columns and manicured lawn.

This home was built on a more human scale with a one story roof line. This, plus the wilderness beyond, makes it much more welcoming.

This home was built on a more human scale with a one story roof line. This, plus the wilderness beyond, makes it much more welcoming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (left) Carolyn - Flickr & (right) seier+seier+seier - Flickr

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Posted in Housing, Rural | Comments (1)

Social Capital through the Front Porch

July 30th, 2009

Like I mentioned in my last post, many people see development possibilities as a good way to invest in, and grow, their towns.  So, what makes a new urbanism neighborhood so much better than your standard subdivision?  (Find out what Hercules, CA has to say here, and what Stapleton residents think here)

The American front porch was a great tool for encouraging socialization.  Families would spend nice evenings on the porch, waving to passing neighbors or offering them a glass of iced tea or lemonade and a chair to sit down in.  Before lives were more hectic and evenings were spent at karate practice, people enjoyed a quiet evening together with friends and family.  The neighborhood kids would play together on a whim, and not a scheduled play-date.

Many new home buyers remember this care-free aspect of their childhood, and want to give their children the same opportunity.  From what I have seen, many members of Gen Y see subdivisions and cul-de-sacs as idealistic and sterile places with no real character.  These subdivisions are based on the car with large garages dominating the streetscape, wide roads to accommodate those cars, and are located far from work and shopping, making the car a necessity in all daily tasks.

New urbanism neighborhoods are no longer based on the car in the garage, and instead are focused on the people in the homes.  Lots are set up “long and skinny,” encouraging homeowners to locate the garage at the back of their property, with access from the shared alley.  Roads are narrower to encourage slower traffic, which in turn encourages people to start utilizing the front yard as a safe place to play and the neighborhood a safe place to walk.  In these neighborhoods the front porch is making a comeback.

One of the great things about rural communities is that people tend to know and care about their neighbors.  When neighborhoods are built in a way that encourages connectivity, neighbors and communities start to reap the benefits.  Communities start to build social capital by connecting neighbors to one another.  And, as I have discussed before, connecting new people to others in your community is essential in keeping those newcomers in your neighborhoods and happy. 

 

Photo courtesy of Seabrook, WA, another very neat town that was created using New Urbanist principles.

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Posted in Community Development, Community Engagement, Housing, Quality of Life, Uncategorized | Comments (3)

New Urbanism in Rural America

July 21st, 2009

 
Many people believe that for a town to grow, it needs a new development on the edge of town.  People moving to town need a place to build, so why not?  A contractor or developer buys land on the edge of town and divides it into cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets.  The developments often eat up valuable farmland, and become a suburban island far from where people work and play.  New urbanism, or smart growth, is helping these cities and towns develop better.

New urbanism believes in land conservation, mixed use development, and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods.  These new developments are built in one of two places: infilling an existing but declining neighborhood, or on the edge of town.  Infilling prevents sprawl, saves resources by using existing infrastructure, and helps bring back life in old neighborhoods. 

When infilling is not an option, new developments using smart growth principles are modeled after older neighborhoods in the community or city and placed on the edge of town.  These lots are set up on a traditional grid pattern with narrower streets to slow traffic, with narrow and deep lots.  This promotes a safe neighborhood for children to play in, pedestrians to stroll, and others the ability to bike to work.  These developments model themselves off existing streets and neighborhoods to help connect with the town.  This helps the development create a sense of self, as well as a feeling of belonging to the city and not an attached parasite. 

New urbanism also believes in mixed use development.  Good new urbanism developments actually have a higher population density than average neighborhoods, connect residents around community plazas and playgrounds, and provide essential shopping (think groceries, hardware, florist, etc.) as well as offices within minutes.  They encourage biking and walking; they build apartments and single-family homes in the same neighborhood, and invest in community spaces.  All of these aspects contribute to a community’s social capital.

So, why do we not see more new urbanism in our communities?  I think one reason is the fact that they take more planning and effort.  I think we can all agree that a larger up-front investment is hard for any community to swallow, whether it has 500 or 100,000 residents.  But, if people start asking for these types of neighborhoods, I think they can become more commonplace and start to outnumber their suburban counterparts. 

Which would you rather live in, and why?  Is there a reason you would prefer one over the other?  This is something I want to study more and would like to hear some input.

For more information on this topic and what our neighbor to the east is doing to implement these new neighborhoods, check out the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund’s Building Better Neighborhoods website.

 

Photo Credit: Matt on Flickr

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Posted in Community Development, Housing, Quality of Life, Rural | Comments (0)

Home renovation: Are you covered in warts?

July 8th, 2009

I love walking around Bozeman, MT.  The old neighborhoods around campus are so calming with their large old trees and well manicured houses.  There is something so inviting about those neighborhoods - they just draw you in.

When I come home to rural South Dakota, I see a lot of the same thing.  Many homes have been preserved and updated nicely.  The additions match the original style of the home and blend nearly seamlessly together.  These places make me want to park my car and stroll through the neighborhood.  They get me thinking about how I would love to live there and eventually raise a family.

But, I unfortunately see a lot of homes that are covered in warts.  Whether it is peeling paint, a sinking

a "faceless addition

porch, a “faceless addition” or one too many lean-to’s nailed to the side, these warts turn me away.  I start to wonder what else these people do not care about, since they obviously are not interested in maintaining a pleasing home and neighborhood.  I often then attach these negative perceptions to the whole community.

I feel, as a member of Gen Y and future architect, that appearance plays a large role in the perception of the character of those living in wart-covered houses.  I believe home owners can greatly diminish their warts by not spending more, but by spending smarter.  Here are a few resources I’ve found to help you start spending smarter and making your home wart-free.

I know of several additions that have been accomplished by parking a trailer next to the house and opening the doors between the two.  What kind of portrait does that paint to someone who comes into your community?  By putting more thought into additions and exteriors, we can create communities and neighborhoods that look more inviting.  Without an inviting housing market, a community can never grow.  Rural is not a place of desolation and worn out spaces.  It is a place of vibrant communities and resourceful people.  If too many homeowners do not start to understand the importance of design, not only will their homes and those around them lose value, but the community will be less inviting to those looking to move in.

These photographs portray neighborhoods or homes I would want to own or walk through.  The landscaping looks nice, the home looks cared for, and the area looks friendly.

Photo Credits:
Far upper right, Eric Allix Rogers, Flickr
Photo Strip left to right, Richard Eriksson, Matthew Rutledge, and Lukas Bergstrom, all from Flickr.

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Posted in Community Engagement, Housing, Quality of Life, Rural, Training and Events | Comments (0)

Where am I supposed to live?

June 30th, 2009

I don’t want to buy a house, since I don’t know what I’ll be doing a year or two from now.  An apartment, a condo or maybe a town home with charm is what I’m looking for.  I don’t want anything that looks like my grandma just moved out, but something nice.  I don’t want to take care of a big yard either - I have too much other stuff going on.  Do you have anything like that?

Is your community appealing to young professionals who are coming to you sans children?  Are you thinking about the needs of those who are fresh out of high school or college?

According to the Urban Land Institute, Millennials are the largest generation since the Baby Boomers at 75 million strong.  They also say my generation is, “making a mark that is as different as it is powerful.”  So, what does that mean?  Industry experts suggest that Millennials will want housing that reflects themselves: unique, diverse (about 39% of this generation is non-white), social, and green. 

What do Millennials want?

Millennials want something that they can handle.  Most do not have the money to fix up an older house.  Instead, they want something they can move right into, where the only improvement is a new coat of paint.  Also, these potential buyers or renters are usually in entry-level positions without a large amount of job security.  They might feel buying a house does not make financial sense if there is a possibility of moving on in a few years.

So, what can you do to attract young buyers or renters to what you already have? 

What can a developer do to invest?

Most people know that Millennials are socially different from other generations, but do communities understand that they also looking for different housing?  I believe that creating certain types of housing in smaller communities will help lead my generation back.  As Kevin Costner says, “If you build it, they will come.”

 

Photo credit:  Anthony Easton:Flickr

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Posted in Community Development, Gen Y, Housing, Rural | Comments (2)

What am I supposed to do in this town?

June 22nd, 2009

If I came to your community, what would I do?
Even though I enjoy a drink with friends, I don’t feel like spending every night at the bar.  Where else can I go to socialize with people my age with my interests?  I don’t have any kids, so I can’t make friends with other parents from daycare.  There really aren’t any young people where I work, either.  Do you have any suggestions?

What would you say to these young professionals who are coming to you sans children or families?  It seems like small communities (those under pop. 3,000) spend all their time and resources trying to attract young families and keep its older members.   But, how many communities are thinking about those who are fresh out of high school or college?

Mike has posted before about Young Professional groups around the region, and I think they are incredible.  Many young people have come from a college town (population at least 5,000) and like the buzzing social scene where they can find thousands of like minded people in an instant.  These YP groups do for a community what a college does for its students: provide activities and resources for them to get together to make connections or help advance their career.

Help us get to know each other

I found an application for the Solomon Schechter Awards for Outreach to Young Adults from the Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta, GA.  They were facing a withdrawal of young adults (age 20-35) without families.  Sound familiar?

a woman stands against a porch that she helped build while volunteering for Habitat for Humanity

a woman stands against a porch that she helped build while volunteering for Habitat for Humanity

They made an active decision to reach out with specific events tailored to people aged 20-35.  They started with a Habitat for Humanity project that drew about 60 people; the basis for their e-mailing list.  That lead to a monthly “parlor - type discussion” in a rabbi’s home, a monthly contemporary service at 7:30pm with appetizers and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, trips to concerts, and other purely social parties.  They now have an e-mailing list of 600 and the monthly events are attended by 100-200 people.

Sure, Atlanta is a big city, but don’t put down what they accomplished.  This congregation had over 900 members, just like a lot of our small towns.  A whole community could be a model after this congregation.  They can modify the synagogue’s events and tailor their own to help bring back the young people.

Invite us in

We probably will not invite ourselves to serve on your city council, nor invite ourselves into an already made community like a congregation.  Instead, invite us to volunteer at the church, school or other function.  If we say yes, you have another volunteer who feels needed.  And if we say no, you have at least invited us into your circle.  The more you help us connect to other people, the more willing we will be to stay.  If small towns do not start projecting their want for young ideas and young involvement, they will continue their history of decline.  What image is your town projecting?

Photo credit: Susan Lloyd Image - flickr

For an interesting article about “the quarter life quandry” and how some towns are keeping young people involved, check out Facing a Midlife Crisis … at 25.

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The New Five-Year Plan

June 15th, 2009

Not many people my age believe in the five year plan of our parents and older generations.  No longer does the thought of getting a Mrs. Major or a Come Back Home Right Away Minor dominate the career path.  But, what makes these other places - these big, unknown cities - so attractive to Gen Y?

Growing up in small town South Dakota was not always easy.  Going to the movies took you 45 minutes west, going to the mall took you an hour south and the closest Chinese restaurant was 30 minutes east.  Even getting to school took me an hour on the bus. 

Growing up among the cornfields and cattle, I learned that if you work hard and set your mind to something you could achieve it - or at least until that massive thunderstorm rolled in and the ensuing hail knocked down half of your crops, and therefore, half your livelihood.  It was a place to dream, but also a place of harsh realities.

Now, I’m going to school for Architecture in a “big city.”  Bozeman, Montana, home of Montana State (Go Cats!), has a city population around 35,000.  It seems pretty idealistic, where no hail or drought can ruin my day.  But if something does, I just walk downtown to meet my friends at one of the many coffee shops.  There we can listen to the continuous live music and let the warm mocha soothe our troubles.

Why go bigger?
So, why are these idealistic places so alluring to my generation?  Is it the “small town feel” without the small town limits?  Is it the fact that Target, Wal-Mart and Costco are all within a 10 minute drive?  Or is it something less tangible?

The Bean is a popular site in Chicago, IL

The Bean is a popular site in Chicago, IL

 

According to a study by CEOs for Cities, 64% of college grads aged 25-34 would rather pick a city to live in first and then try and find a job.  They also are most likely to choose that city based on what they have heard from other people and what they have seen on the web or TV.  This finding is consistent from what I have experienced. 

Professors in the School of Architecture have studied and lived all over the country, and they pass their stories onto us:  “I lived in Seattle for 6 months and I had to get out: It never stopped raining!”  “I worked at Columbia.  It was a great time, and I loved the city.”  “Denver in the 80s was hard.  The recession left the city jobless, including me.”

One of my med-school friends is going to Seattle after graduation, saying she has always wanted to live there.  I have nursing friend  who is going down to Kansas City to intern after her four years in South Dakota.  Another friend says he will go anywhere they are willing to hire him in any job that even remotely relates to his Engineering degree.  My teaching friends say they will go where ever they can get hired for the most money, but would like to stay in South Dakota. 

Personally, I’ll go wherever I can get hired, live comfortably, and be happy.  I do have a favorite city picked out though, and it happened to land the #7 spot on the CEOs for Cities list: Chicago, IL.

Photo Credit: Mike Boehmer - Flikr

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