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A stray comment on the culture-war thread from two weeks ago reminds me that, IMO, people on this website have been talking very loosely when they compare "urban", "suburban", and "rural" living.
The definitions endorsed by the United Nations are roughly as follows.
Urban: ≥ 1500 people per km2 (6.1 people per acre)
Suburban: ≥ 300 people per km2 (1.2 people per acre)
Rural: < 300 people per km2 (1.2 people per acre)
However, six people per acre actually isn't that dense. The US's IZC (International Zoning Code) is not necessarily authoritative, but in its single-family and two-family residential zones it permits density of up to six dwelling units per acre, implying 15 people per acre at 2.5 people per household.⁎
Likewise, a representative comment describes suburbs as follows:
Yet, if you look at a random US "city" in Google Maps, you will see lots of single-family houses with their own backyards and limited access to mass transit.
So, what do you actually mean when you say "urban", "suburban", and "rural" living? Maybe it's something like this.
Urban living: Row houses and apartment buildings, with incidental retail
Suburban living: Single-family and two-family houses, and nothing else
Rural living: Incidental single-family houses in land that is largely agricultural or undeveloped
⁎With tongue significantly less than halfway in cheek, I previously suggested that the threshold for a fourth "mega-city" category in the UN's framework might be set at 7500 people per km2 (30 people per acre). This matches the IZC's upper bound for multifamily residential zones (12 dwelling units per acre), past which commercial/residential zones with unlimited dwelling-unit density must be used instead.
I think that's pretty close, although I think it's worth pointing out that some suburbs have a good deal of garden apartment complexes, for example many towns in New Jersey. I have also seen a lot of garden apartment complexes in the Central Valley in California.
I'm tempted to distinguish urban and suburban based on whether, as a practical matter, you need a car. The idea being that the car requirement is a significant barrier for the kind of low human capital people who cause a lot of problems in cities and who suburbanites are typically trying to avoid.
I think that to a large extent this describes fleeing. I mean, what's the problem with sharing walls walls, floors, ceilings, and outdoor space with strangers? To a large extent, the problem is low human capital people.
You could theoretically live in this neighborhood without a car: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SaPWqXz55VwMcyqh9
It has a couple bus stops, lots of parks, restaurants within a short walk, gainful employment (at Space X), a QFC, and other places. However, walk around on Google Maps and it will feel very suburban.
None of the parks have restrooms. The houses largely have property values in the millions. I think in the US "suburban" means area without extra crime but you still rub elbows with your neighbors.
(Honestly I think this neighborhood is one of the ideal examples of urban planning and wish there were more neighborhoods like it. Just with more reasonably priced homes, but maybe it doesn't work with reasonably priced homes.)
Well, as the saying goes, in theory there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is a big difference between theory and practice.
I can also say that in practice you can go months without needing to drive unless you want to go to a specific grocery store.
I picked out a random house from your Google maps link. The address is 9424 226th Pl NE.
To be clear, I picked this house completely at random, I have no idea who lives there, if anyone.
Ok, now suppose you lived there and you wanted
(1) to go to the gym every day at 6 am.
(2) to buy groceries a couple times a week;
(3) to go out to dinner at Luigi's Cocina Restaurant (one of the nearest restaurants) once a week on Friday or Saturday night.
(4) to meet friends at an establishment with dancing and music a couple times a month (in the evening). (the nearest I could find is Palmers East); and
(5) to go to a hardware store, sporting goods store, or other specialty store a couple times a month.
How exactly would you accomplish this?
Lol, you got pretty close to the mark with your example.
...Ok, you can't live every lifestyle there. I guess there are people who want to go to a gym for the community factor instead of just exercise at home. And there are people who want to dance...
But if your demographic is "married mother of 4" then you have:
4+ playgrounds that are close enough that a toddler to walk to.
Elementary, Middle, and Preschool also within easy walking distance.
Community center within walking distance.
Library drop off/pick up within walking distance.
Really great crosswalks and sidewalks and good laws/culture that mean cars have to stop to let people cross the road at designated crosswalks.
As far as your specific requests:
(1) Anytime Fitness is a 24 hour gym that is a 12 min bike ride or half an hour walk.
(2) The QFC is a 12 minute bike ride, which tbh I don't know many people who want to walk with groceries but biking with a trailer is fine and meets the "no cars" point. And there are bike lanes and trails. If you want to walk it's about half an hour which isn't a bad walk either, though I wouldn't want to make it with a gallon of milk in each hand.
(3) Ixtapa is a much nicer restaurant and a very easy walk.
(4) Palmer's East is in Redmond Town Center? There's a bus pick up by Rosa Parks Elementary (about a 10 min walk from your selected house with a stroller) that goes straight to Redmond Town Center approx every 1 hour. (DART Route 224) This is a harder requirement because I don't think this is as popular an activity in the area. Most live shows are in Seattle proper, which is a pain to get to whether you're on bus, car, boat, or bicycle.
(5) Redmond Town Center also has a Guitar Center, does that count? Otherwise there's a lot of other cool things within easy walking distance of Redmond Town Center. Big 5 Sporting Goods, Zumiez, etc. Home Depot is a little further away but is that a thing that might be worth finding your friend with a truck anyway?
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