Quote Originally Posted by Detroitnerd View Post
The future for the exurbs is grim. Given rising fuel costs and heating costs, as well as changing tastes among the young, these areas simply will not be able to sustain themselves. Whereas cities are very durable. Detroit may look like hell now, but let's not forget that the population of Rome went from 1.5 million to about 15,000. But look at Rome today. It survives today. But suburbanization has been a 100-year experiment at a time of cheap fuel and roads. We should be intelligently retrenching and rebuilding the city, not making last-ditch efforts to preserve exurban communities.

But don't take my word for it. There are plenty of people on the forum putting forth that argument.
Yes there are. You're in swell company.

Counterpoints to your "grim exurbs" scenario:

Rising fuel costs - efficiency gains counteract, at least partially, rising costs. Possibility of technology breakthrough yielding radically lower costs. Mass transit network enabling exurban types to live way out but only have to drive to the train station, like in east coast cities.

Rising heating costs - large natural gas deposits in North America. Recent home construction techniques [[exurbs) more efficient than older housing stock. Large lots sizes more economical for ground loop heat pump installation. Financial ability of exurban types to pay for energy efficiency improvements to their homes.

Changing tastes among young - Young singles and couples have always gravitated toward cities. More so today? Perhaps, but the "get married, have kids, move out to the burbs" pattern is alive and well today even among the latest crop of city-dwellers. And the 30-something that moves from the city to Royal Oak may be buying the house of the 50-something that wants to move to the peace and quiet of Romeo. Probably even if it costs him more.

A revitalized city would be great, but assuming that the suburbs/exurbs are going to shrivel up and die and therefore we must rebuild the city now is part wishful thinking, and part doomsday scenario that doesn't acknowledge plausible alternate futures.