by:  Diane Benjamin

The professor has been trying to convince citizens for a year to invest a lot of money downtown because downtown is the future.  Tari claims millennials are dying to live downtown.  He claims strip malls are dead, just trust him, he is smart.

Looks like the facts differ Tari.

Here’s an article, probably from one of your favorite left wing websites:

Let’s Not Pronounce Sprawl Dead Just Yet

Few things have been as simultaneously destructive to the natural environment, the economy, and our social fabric as the tidal wave of suburban sprawl that washed over the US in the late 20th century.  Driving rates and related emissions soared as we had to drive longer and longer distances to get anywhere; pavement gobbled up watersheds and ecosystems; infrastructure construction and maintenance costs threatened to bankrupt governments; and inner-city populations languished as investment and opportunity fled for (literally) greener pastures.

As a result, environmentalists and city advocates have taken comfort in recent trends that have shown a resurgence in cities and inner suburbs, as outer suburban subdivisions lost more value in the recession than did urban locations and average new home sizes began to shrink.  Demographic trends have suggested that these welcome changes are likely structural, not just temporary products of a slumping economy.

There’s still reason to feel optimistic about cities over the long run, but a range of new housing data suggest that what’s really going on in the marketplace may be more complex and mixed than some of us had come to believe.

Home sizes growing again

For example, the average new single-family home size at the end of 2013 had strongly rebounded to a record 2,679 square feet, 180 square feet bigger than in 2007 before the recession.  (American houses are markedly gluttonous when it comes to floor space.  The average new home size in Britain is only 818 square feet; in Canada, it is 1,948 square feet.)

According to census data, about 48 percent of new homes in 2013 had at least four bedrooms, up from 34 percent in 2009. The share of new homes with at least three full bathrooms rose to 35 percent from 23 percent in 2010, and the number with three-plus car garages increased to 22 percent from 16 percent in 2010.  Also, 60 percent of new homes in 2013 were two-story, single-family properties – an increase from 51 percent in 2009.  It’s a safe bet that most of these new houses are being built in outer suburbs, contributing to sprawl.

Read More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/f-kaid-benfield/lets-dont-pronounce-spraw_b_5636264.html

The article goes on to discuss millennials living with their parents.  It also says micro-living is increasing, but so is urban home building.

They miss the obvious.  Millennials need jobs.  Even if they do work, salaries force them into micro-living.

The City of Bloomington has gambled enough with taxpayer money.  The Coliseum, BCPA, Pepsi Ice Center, etc, etc continually cost taxpayers money.  Your attempt to rebuild downtown will be no different Tari.

I can’t wait to see how many potted plants think you are too brilliant to vote against.