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This came from the December 15, 2008 issue of The New Yorker Magazine.
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In spite of my intention to stay away from all but frivolous news, I bought a paper on Thursday at the cafe in the health club building, while waiting for mr. kenju to finish his therapy. The main headline assaulted my eyes:
RALEIGH-CARY AREA TOPS
THE NATION IN GROWTH
THE NATION IN GROWTH
"The metropolitan area is home to more than 1 million people after growing by more than 4% from 2007 to 2008. But that is slower than in previous years." By Kristen Collins
"As the national economy lost steam last year, the Raleigh area continued to attract residents, becoming the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country.
According to census numbers released today, the Raleigh-Cary metropolitan area, which includes Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties, grew by 4.3 percent from July 2007 to July 2008, and is now home to close to 1.1 million people. It well outpaced its closest rival, the Austin, Texas area, which grew by 3.8 percent."
Raleigh and the surrounding areas have been cited in many polls and publications over the last 5-10 years for a number of reasons; quality of life, income levels, job availability, educational advantages, etc. That has caused the large influx of people, from many different areas. This is a good thing, but it also contributes to the problems we have seen crop up recently, such as rampant traffic, city and county services lagging behind the need for them, higher taxes, etc. I'm trying to see the silver lining to the dark clouds on the horizon.
Is your area faced with unbridled growth? Or are you suffering from a lack of it?
Raleigh and the surrounding areas have been cited in many polls and publications over the last 5-10 years for a number of reasons; quality of life, income levels, job availability, educational advantages, etc. That has caused the large influx of people, from many different areas. This is a good thing, but it also contributes to the problems we have seen crop up recently, such as rampant traffic, city and county services lagging behind the need for them, higher taxes, etc. I'm trying to see the silver lining to the dark clouds on the horizon.
Is your area faced with unbridled growth? Or are you suffering from a lack of it?
14 comments:
We're shrinking. I told my children when they left the area not to come back because there were better opportunities elsewhere. And since then it's gotten worse. You are blessed that you live in a growth area.
The rural county in which I live was designated the fastest growing in the state a few years back. We have military and the contractors and retirees who come to the water, so that is the reason. Traffic has gotten worse but it is not as bad as in the city.
House building has practically stopped in the UK because of the economy. No mortgages, no house buyers. No house buyers so no houses sold. So no movers.
The South-east of England generally tends to be bursting at the seams. but when I go to see my sister who lives down there, the pace of life seems frenetic, everyone wants to outdo everyone else in possessions, houses, whatever. Cars everywhere, new 4x4's though where they are likely to go "off road" is a conundrum!!!
But not for much longer, the car industry seems to have stopped, no loans around, etc. etc. yada yada stress stress.
Its much nicer up in the north of England!
I love the crisis drawing. Wouldn't you think, with all the public outcry, the "news" networks would catch on and cut it out?
Cape May County had a period of very rapid development for several years. But now I believe it's ground to a halt. I'm happy to see the population slow down, and the development with it. We have already lost most of the rural atmosphere that once existed here. But our economy is pretty sad at this point.
I city hopped in Florida to escape the rapid growth. It may fatten some pocket books, but I have seen too much happen to lower quality of life for the average resident rather than raise it in the long run. Now in some Fl. cities, teachers, firefighters and cops can no longer afford to live there but the services are desparately needed due to the increased population. I saw the same story you saw and thought of you.
I can only say "good luck". I feel it is a Catch 22.
We been the same for a century. Four people had to die here before they'd let us move in. :P
I like the cartoon. Sums it up quite well. Where we are living at moment there is not a lot of growth because we are surrounded by mountains and ocean. In the city, in-fill is permitted to allow for some expansion, but there's really not much room to grow. There was a huge growth spurt in 80s, I think those swelled numbers became the new status quo.
We only have a paper now on the days MTL goes out. The news is on for the headlines and then over to something serious like Antique's Road Show or The Egg Heads or The Simpsons.
You know how it is here: All our people are moving to your area and Charlotte. :-)
We had our blast of folks moving here in '07 and 08 and the home prices skyrocketed...we have terrible traffic along the mile or so that goes through town on one way streets, a city government that can't agree on anything and never ending school levies that are killing taxes. many folks are now losing those homes, businesses are closing and our resort Schweitzer is seeing horrible numbers.
Every time I am driven to different part of Tucson I see new shopping centers, subdivisions, and houses sprouting like weeds. The traffic is now at rush hour peak 24 hours a day. Maybe one good thing to come from the economic downturn will be a halt to rampant growth.
Unbridled growth, loved by some, hated by some.
Well, being a native North Carolinian, I have Opinions about this. Opinions with a capital O.
I hate how crowded and rude things have grown. I hate the conversational exchanges I hear in public places. . .
Yankee accent #1 says: So you're new here?
Yankee accent #2 says: Yes, we're worried about the kids getting a good education.
#1: We've been here 5 years, and our kids beat the socks off the local kids. Don't worry, your kids will do better than the locals. And in-state tuition to UNC is a bargain.
SNOBS, carpetbaggers and opportunists.
And on occasion, some really nice ones who make great friends and actually have church-going tendencies with values that fit in the Bible Belt instead of trying to smear this place out of existence.
If you transplant, just don't come and try to put things just like the wonderful places you left! We thought you wanted to come somewhere "better". . .
I'd think the transplant motto would be SQUAT, DUMP, FLUSH though from what we've seen. Give them 10 years, and they will be chasing the almighty dollah to the next trendy spot and doing the same thing.
When we went to the Bowl game after Christmas in Charlotte, we saw how that city has grown over the last 10-15 years.
Here? Bored to the bone! I'm actually going to Tenn next month on business, looking into a new venture for myself.
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