The Cultured Girl

Most urban-dwelling 20- and 30-somethings I know shudder at the thought of someday moving to the suburbs. But with the housing prices as absurd as they are in cities such as San Francisco and New York, sometimes it seems that moving to a culture-starved, commute-tainted burg is inevitable. Fortunately, a new housing concept, dubbed the “new village,” could supply a very different vision for suburban dwelling. Spearheaded by community planners like Robert McIntyre, new villages would combine the density of urban downtowns with a small-town vibe —think walkable squares with farmers markets — alongside major commuter rail lines. In some ways the idea sounds a bit too pre-planned for me, but I also like the idea of suburbs without the sterile subdivisions and long commutes.