Among the architectural delights of older cities are row houses: tall, slender homes that stand shoulder to shoulder along city streets. This most elegant of urban housing styles is coming back, but with two differences. First, row houses aren't just in older cities anymore; they're building them in San Diego. Second, the San Diego row houses aren't actually shoulder to shoulder, they're 2 inches apart. And in that slight separation is an interesting story about what people want in their houses today. Because the San Diego row houses share no common walls, they're not condos, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported recently. That means no condo fees, no nosey condo board and not many restrictions on what an owner can do with her house. A lot of these developments are being sold as anti-condos, even though they're built under condo regulations. They're a nice alternative for people who want to live in cities but not over or under anyone. Plus, they enjoy the condo advantage of fitting nicely in tight urban spaces. The downside is that three-story row houses aren't for the handicapped or elderly.
THIS TOWN IS GOING TO THE DOGS
The best sign that downtown Los Angeles has turned the corner: It's going to the dogs. Yes, it's nice to see people living in the new lofts and condos downtown, since they're starting to bring in restaurants and other retail. But their dogs are the prize residents. Dogs have to be walked morning and night, which puts an equal number of law-abiding people on the streets. And the dog owners of downtown L.A. are quick to report problems they see on their walks, which is good for everyone. And if dogs are good for downtown, the reverse is also true: Downtown L.A. is a good place for dogs. Apartment buildings are more welcoming of pets than apartments elsewhere. Some even offer special accommodations, like dog walks on the roof or entire floors set aside for pet lovers. And the demographics of downtown residents (young and childless) make it more likely they'll have pets. Some estimate that half of all downtown residents have dogs, the Los Angeles Times reported. Then there's the safety factor. Downtown L.A. is still a scary place, with an army of homeless people camped out on the streets. Dogs make residents feel safer.
THE SEARCH FOR MUNICIPAL IDENTITY
There has been a surge of municipal incorporations in the past decade or so, mostly in fast-growing suburban areas. After a city is formed comes the hard work of creating a government, bolstering the tax base and building a reliable set of public services. If new cities in the Seattle area are a guide, next comes the search for distinctiveness. The region created a slew of cities in the 1990s, most of which have done well on their own. But once they've passed the survival stage, the fresh-minted cities want something else, the Seattle Times reported recently: "an identity." There seem to be two things at work here. One is the competition for residents, businesses and visitors; the other is a desire for neighborliness and local pride. And there have been successes in this search for distinctiveness, the newspaper reported. Issaquah has created an annual event called Salmon Days, which draws 150,000 visitors for two days every year. Kirkland has a reputation as a place that appreciates art, thanks to investments in whimsical public art. But other places are still searching for things that will set them apart. There's the feeling that, in their newness, affluence and growth, these places have not done a good job of nurturing connectedness. By creating distinctive public spaces, leaders feel, they can bring their citizens closer together.
