I think the issue with this kind of argument is that we are paying for it right now. That money doesn't come from nowhere, the roads are paid for by the property and gas taxes of those burbs. There's no substance to this plan other than "disincentivize a lifestyle I don't approve of by imposing artificial costs." Such a plan will go nowhere because most people want this lifestyle. Compared to living in a house becoming an apartment dweller is seen as a massive step down in quality of life (and I think they're right, having land, space, no shared walls or landlord is awesome I'm saving for a house and super jealous of my friends who already own). Even my friends who live in the city are planning to move out and settle down eventually. Tanking property values is also a fast track to another recession. No one will vote for your plan. This is what I mean by it being part of our culture. Anything that takes away like the goal for most Americans will be dead on arrival.
> That money doesn't come from nowhere, the roads are paid for by the property and gas taxes of those burbs.
Two points: many roads get federal and state funding from the general tax fund meaning we all pay for them whether we drive or not, and the suburbs are going bankrupt because car infrastructure is so expensive. https://youtu.be/7Nw6qyyrTeI
As for your other complaints, why is living in an apartment you own in a city with shared public spaces rather than owning private land such a downgrade?
For context I grew up in a single family home in a burb but now live in a city.
* No green space, having a shared public park is very different than being surrounded by mature trees, gardens, (and woods depending on where you are).
* $/sq ft is uneconomical to actually do anything in an apartment except live there. Maker spaces are overpriced and a huge pain in the ass to actually use.
* It's not my land so I can't do what I want with it like pant vegetables, install a hot tub, add a fire pit and grill.
* I can make loud noise at all hours of the night. Sure I'll be a good neighbor and not blast the sound system into my yard at 2am but I can watch movies, play video games, or play loud music (or honestly, have sex) whenever I want.
* Ventilation is a million times better which is needed if you like to cook and have a gas range.
* Having the space for a large fridge and chest freezer lets me buy much nicer food because I have a place to store it.
* Being able to have real real gym equipment lowers the barrier to making a habit of exercising. Dragging myself to the gym after work is such a hassle.
* Having extra bedrooms means we can host family who are too old to crash on a couch or take friends in who are between apartments or struggling financially.
* The schools are just nicer, not just from an education perspective but having acres of land for sports, recess, and playground equipment is totally different.
* A lifestyle where you have a car makes you a lot more mobile for weekend trips. I can pack the car and in two hours be on a lake.
I don't care about greenspaces and I think you are giving way too much credit to lawns in suburbs. It is not usually a 'green space' any more than a city park is.
I live in a very tiny apartment and I can do almost all of the things you are claiming you want to. I don't want to dox myself, but for much cheaper than a home in the burbs I have pretty much every amenity you described plus 24/7 security which handles visitors and deliveries, plus all the things found in a normal home (including a full gym) and more within one elevator ride. I can't do my laundry in my underwear but putting on sweatpants isn't difficult.
On top of that, everything I want to do or need to do is just a step outside or at most a few minutes on a transit line or a few tens of minutes on a bike ride.
All big box stores deliver and grocery stores too, and I think a tip + delivery fee is a tad cheaper than gas + insurance + maintainance.
Also, you might be surprised regarding schools in US cities...plenty of people go to public schools in cities and get great educations, plus they also experience diversity and when they get old enough they can walk themselves there.
But what's great is we can all choose. What's not so great is that my lifestyle is sustainable and most suburban lifestyles aren't.
The issue is that once you want to do one thing that isn't feasible in an apartment (I'm a metalworker) it's game over. All my stuff is set up at one of my friend's garages. That same friend's whole backyard is entirely vegetables and their front is fruit trees. Everyone has that one thing. My sister in law raises chickens and goats, my boss who lives on the edge of a public wood hunts and processes the meat. My dad collects rare books and my childhood basement is set up control humidity and temperature.
> plus they also experience diversity and when they get old enough they can walk themselves there
I was in the minority as a white girl in my suburban elementary school and I walked there starting in 4th grade. I biked then drove myself in high school. All the best schools in my state are in the rich burbs and so if/when I want to have kids I'll be looking to buy my way into that.
I think people have weird ideas about suburban life being just lifeless cookie-cutter rows of identical houses but I loved the diverse community of really cool and interesting families I grew up with.
Those things are not what I am talking about -- they seem more akin to rural than 'suburban'. To get on the same page, this is what I am specifically talking about:
