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["David R. Matusiak" <dave AT matusiak.org>]

i haven't really kept up with the verbosity of this thread, nor read 
any of the associated links.  however, i can tell you all that carrboro 
is the bomb.

my 'hood was built in the 1960's.  lots approaching 1/2 acre, similar 
structures, tree-lined streets, on-street parking, good drainage.  it 
is right across the street from OWASA, so water pressure is usually 
dern good.

the view from 3/4 of my house is tall green stuff growing (a little 
less after the ice storm and a little thinner in the winter).  but i 
don't have my breakfast while watching my neighbor take a dump across 
an 18" alley.  in fact, our overall interaction is limited to a 
comfortable degree for us all.  [i.e. wanna see/talk to a neighbor? go 
do so.  if you don't, then you don't have to.]

a short jaunt thru Hobo Alley and you are at one of the J bus stops 
that go direct to campus.  two blocks in the other direction and i'm 
sure you could score some crack.  i love the diversity of my 'hood.

four blocks from gourmet coffee and/or Wendy's.  a few more blocks to a 
hippie-commune grocery store which offers many outdoor activities for 
people who don't like to bathe.  there is the corporate grocer, of 
course, if you want to go to hell for giving your money to nazis.

walking/biking/bussing distance to several good bars and restaurants, 
dog parks, kid parks, farmer's market, the BIG ASSED police station, 
and several great concert venues.  really, i have little reason to ever 
leave carrboro.

i only have to use an auto to get to either Raleigh or No Hope Commons 
(so i can give money to evil corporations like Wal*Mart and Best Buy 
and all those vile, horrific institutions of commerce).  but these 
days, i'd rather swallow my tongue than drive around with all the 
freakin' idiots on these roads.

so, in short - Carrboro kicks your ass and your should move here stat 
and help with the gentrification.  hurry!!  only two months left!!

/drm

On Tuesday, January 7, 2003, at 01:18  PM, Linda Watson wrote:

> At 11:47 AM 1/7/2003 -0500, Thomas C. Meggs wrote:
>
> > [...] Cars breed sprawl growth.
>
> Cars + low fuel costs + highly subsidized roads + abundant parking + 
> busy lives + a love of privacy breed sprawl growth.
>
> I just spent two weeks in Japan, where excellent mass transit, dense 
> pockets of population, and a lack of zoning creates a New Urbanist's 
> dream. I'm so glad I don't live there! I agree with Gina -- give me 
> *some* space. And knowing your neighbors doesn't mean you'll like 
> them. Go watch "American Beauty" if you think this is the case. Or 
> just think about what it would be like to *live* next to that really 
> annoying person at work.
>
> <wistful_aside>
> Although a Shinkansen network here would be fabulous.
>
> http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html
> </wistful_aside>
>
> I've also lived in four different neighborhoods in Raleigh where you 
> really could get by without a car, if you resigned yourself to taking 
> a taxi once in awhile. All these neighborhoods had many of the 
> qualities sought by the utopians (a range of housing costs, local 
> stores and services, parks, nearby mass transit, etc.). My personal 
> circumstances ranged from "starving student" to "fine, thank you." You 
> don't need to be well-off to live in places like these; in fact, 
> poverty can force you into them.
>
> On the other hand, the vast majority of my current neighbors never 
> walk to the Wellspring or the other shops in the Ridgewood Shopping 
> Center, three pleasant blocks away. Many of these same neighbors *do* 
> walk for exercise. But we're not isolated from each other. We have a 
> neighborhood book club and lots of social events, including a 
> Christmas party and a Super Bowl party.
>
> ... Linda