Tumbleweeds soon to blow through all American suburbs?

California Finds the Missing Piece of the CO2 Emissions Puzzle - Green Building Blog - Jetson Green

Some skeptics, however, insist that SB375’s goal of walkable transit-oriented development is not a realistic solution to global climate change, because most Americans want the typical suburban lifestyle.

The skeptics are wrong.

First, demographics are against them. Many of the 85 million Baby Boomers who are Empty Nesters, or will soon be, are downsizing and moving to more densely-developed urban areas where they can walk to restaurants, stores, theaters, and museums.

Meanwhile, Gen Xers (50 million strong) and Generation Y (76 million . . . and just entering the workforce) don’t want to live in their parents’ suburban neighborhoods, according to a recent RCLCo study. They want more vibrant mixed-use districts, more walkable lifestyles, and more human connections. They want to live close to friends, family, and work, i.e., in compact, pedestrian-friendly, transit-connected, mixed-use districts.