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lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
1.0
There are a number of interesting ideas, and the sections regarding the history of the suburbs and the "New Urbanist" movement seem to be solid, but this book is so problematic. The logical holes drain coherency from the overall argument.
It's hard to buy the author's assertion that the suburbs are coming to an end at face value. This is not to say the book has no value. It would be good for a group discussion to see how having a predetermined conclusion shapes evidence selection, data manipulation and what research an author seeks out to support the idea.
The so-called "overwhelming" truth also covers up actual facts. Baseball stadiums put me over the edge in terms of accepting data presentation. On the "countless" stadiums built since the year 1990, all were "built in the urban core." First off, here are less than 30 baseball teams and the Cubs, for instance, still play in the same stadium. The implied context for this urban revival suggests all these teams moved from the suburbs. I don't know all the teams that moved to a new stadium during this time period, but a number of these stadiums were built within walking distance of the old one. The Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds come to mind. This one small point illustrated to me how much manipulation occurred. If nothing else, Gallagher understands the principles of persuasive writing and how to stretch material that could make several well written and engaging stand alone articles into a lengthy book.
It's hard to buy the author's assertion that the suburbs are coming to an end at face value. This is not to say the book has no value. It would be good for a group discussion to see how having a predetermined conclusion shapes evidence selection, data manipulation and what research an author seeks out to support the idea.
The so-called "overwhelming" truth also covers up actual facts. Baseball stadiums put me over the edge in terms of accepting data presentation. On the "countless" stadiums built since the year 1990, all were "built in the urban core." First off, here are less than 30 baseball teams and the Cubs, for instance, still play in the same stadium. The implied context for this urban revival suggests all these teams moved from the suburbs. I don't know all the teams that moved to a new stadium during this time period, but a number of these stadiums were built within walking distance of the old one. The Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds come to mind. This one small point illustrated to me how much manipulation occurred. If nothing else, Gallagher understands the principles of persuasive writing and how to stretch material that could make several well written and engaging stand alone articles into a lengthy book.
mactammonty's review
3.0
This is an older book since it was published in 2013 with the information available at that time. Until the last year I would have agreed that cities and cottage country were the highest real estate markets. Now it is more debatable.
Are business going to continue with the work from home trend started, or speed up, by Covid-19? If it does then compact Suburbs with large green space, room for home offices and class space may be the way of our housing future. Less driving to work makes these places more affordable.
Time will tell of course.
Are business going to continue with the work from home trend started, or speed up, by Covid-19? If it does then compact Suburbs with large green space, room for home offices and class space may be the way of our housing future. Less driving to work makes these places more affordable.
Time will tell of course.
bricycle's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.25
Gallagher ties in a number of topics together in this easy-to-read, evidence-based exploration of the suburbs. From the failed economics of suburban municipalities to the public health issues and changing generational trends, suburbia is a dying creature (and one that was designed wrong in the first place). If you’re looking for a great place to be introduced to new urbanism, and especially if you grew up in a suburb yourself, this is a fantastic read.
Gallagher utilizes interviews, conferences, and surveys—along with a follow-the-money investigative approach on shifts in construction trends and reversals on real estate development marketing—to provide grounded evidence for her argument. The writing is simple and direct, which makes the weaving of different topics easy to follow. If I had to pick at one thing, it would be that the book had many opportunities to go in detail and provide a more opinionated analysis, but the author chose not to insert as much granular detail or personal opinion. That being said, the coverage of topics is mostly sufficient with just enough of the nitty-gritty to give you a working understanding of many things. Solid introduction.
Gallagher utilizes interviews, conferences, and surveys—along with a follow-the-money investigative approach on shifts in construction trends and reversals on real estate development marketing—to provide grounded evidence for her argument. The writing is simple and direct, which makes the weaving of different topics easy to follow. If I had to pick at one thing, it would be that the book had many opportunities to go in detail and provide a more opinionated analysis, but the author chose not to insert as much granular detail or personal opinion. That being said, the coverage of topics is mostly sufficient with just enough of the nitty-gritty to give you a working understanding of many things. Solid introduction.
sharonus's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting take on the changing face of the suburbs.
puzzlebound's review against another edition
3.0
Much more accessible look at urban design relative to Death and Life of American Cities. I suppose I'll have to figure out where I want to live more permanently in the coming years and this had interesting thoughts on the topic.
sjlee's review against another edition
4.0
Book Review: The End of the Suburbs by Leigh Gallagher
In The End of the Suburbs: Where the American Dream is Moving by Leigh Gallagher makes the argument that the suburban mode of development reached its peak in the 1990s and 2000s and we it has begun its decline as the monolithic form of the built environment. As Gallagher makes clear in her conclusion, the suburbs aren't really over. With millions of homes built in the suburban style and millions of Americans still enamoured with the vision of a big house on a piece of land it will likely always remain. However, the author argues, alternative modes of living are becoming more dominant and reflect a sea change.
Many of the economic and social factors that created the suburbs are in decline or in reverse. It's probably fair to say that we are in the third (maybe fourth?) generation of the suburbs. The logic that created the first few versions of the suburbs have broken down. The initial suburbs were directly alongside the central city. The inner ring of suburbs that developed next were often serviced with public transit and were dense and walkable. However for the second, third, and fourth generation of suburbs prospective homebuyers were driven further into former agricultural areas along freeways. It seems though that the suburban experiment in the 1990s began to reach a point of diminishing returns. Commutes got longer and longer and prices kept climbing. Gallagher writes that many point to the mortgage crisis and high gas prices for killing suburbs, but the truth is that urban property values began to climb again (after decades of decline) in the 1980s.
The cars that promised liberty were transforming into prisons as millions of North Americans trapped themselves for hours a day grinding their ways between work and home. The demographic explosion that justified the suburbs, the Baby Boom, is much diminished. Birth rates have cratered. There is far less need for properties for kids to play in with many bedrooms when fewer people are coupling and having children.
The End of the Suburbs reads like a very long article as it is written in an accessible, casual way, which makes sense given that the author is a journalist. The author conducts interviews that demonstrate many of the failings of suburban life, and contrasts them with people proposing, building or living alternatives. A number of big developers appear in the book, which gives a clear example of how the market is transforming on the demand and supply sides.
There is a slim undercurrent in the book that suggests what is emerging is suburban-like cities and city-like suburbs. I had similar thinking looking at some of the 'new hip' neighbourhoods of Toronto, like Liberty Village. All the chains and wealth of the suburbs have been poured into condominiums and boutiques offering faux-authentic brick even though it's the same chain from the strip mall in the 'burbs.
I think Gallagher does a convincing job laying out the case that the unending sprawl is going to slow down, if not come to an end. But, what will take its place isn't the past but some hybrid of urban and suburban living. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the future of the suburbs and the housing market. It is entirely accessible to a lay audience but sophisticated enough for people well versed in the subject.
You can follow me on Twitter @SLee_OT or at my blog at http://theorangetory.blogspot.ca/ for similar content.
In The End of the Suburbs: Where the American Dream is Moving by Leigh Gallagher makes the argument that the suburban mode of development reached its peak in the 1990s and 2000s and we it has begun its decline as the monolithic form of the built environment. As Gallagher makes clear in her conclusion, the suburbs aren't really over. With millions of homes built in the suburban style and millions of Americans still enamoured with the vision of a big house on a piece of land it will likely always remain. However, the author argues, alternative modes of living are becoming more dominant and reflect a sea change.
Many of the economic and social factors that created the suburbs are in decline or in reverse. It's probably fair to say that we are in the third (maybe fourth?) generation of the suburbs. The logic that created the first few versions of the suburbs have broken down. The initial suburbs were directly alongside the central city. The inner ring of suburbs that developed next were often serviced with public transit and were dense and walkable. However for the second, third, and fourth generation of suburbs prospective homebuyers were driven further into former agricultural areas along freeways. It seems though that the suburban experiment in the 1990s began to reach a point of diminishing returns. Commutes got longer and longer and prices kept climbing. Gallagher writes that many point to the mortgage crisis and high gas prices for killing suburbs, but the truth is that urban property values began to climb again (after decades of decline) in the 1980s.
The cars that promised liberty were transforming into prisons as millions of North Americans trapped themselves for hours a day grinding their ways between work and home. The demographic explosion that justified the suburbs, the Baby Boom, is much diminished. Birth rates have cratered. There is far less need for properties for kids to play in with many bedrooms when fewer people are coupling and having children.
The End of the Suburbs reads like a very long article as it is written in an accessible, casual way, which makes sense given that the author is a journalist. The author conducts interviews that demonstrate many of the failings of suburban life, and contrasts them with people proposing, building or living alternatives. A number of big developers appear in the book, which gives a clear example of how the market is transforming on the demand and supply sides.
There is a slim undercurrent in the book that suggests what is emerging is suburban-like cities and city-like suburbs. I had similar thinking looking at some of the 'new hip' neighbourhoods of Toronto, like Liberty Village. All the chains and wealth of the suburbs have been poured into condominiums and boutiques offering faux-authentic brick even though it's the same chain from the strip mall in the 'burbs.
I think Gallagher does a convincing job laying out the case that the unending sprawl is going to slow down, if not come to an end. But, what will take its place isn't the past but some hybrid of urban and suburban living. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the future of the suburbs and the housing market. It is entirely accessible to a lay audience but sophisticated enough for people well versed in the subject.
You can follow me on Twitter @SLee_OT or at my blog at http://theorangetory.blogspot.ca/ for similar content.
hedonismbookbot's review against another edition
2.0
This was disappointing and definitely felt like a first book. It took too shallow an approach to most of the subjects.
zelma's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting look at housing, builders, community planning and how and why American housing evolves. I appreciated that this wasn't another look at mortgages and the lending industry. Instead this focused on the social, economic and political factors that led to the suburbs, and is now leading to a change in suburban life.