There was a story in the Tyee a few days ago about the "EcoDensity backlash" (a.k.a. glorified NIMBYism):
http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/09/21/EcoDensity/
Here are some choice quotes from the comments:
Quote:
In Europe and the USA the massive high-rise apartments are being torn down for more user friendly 3 or 4 story garden style apartment.
We are not Hong Kong, but it is certainly Asian money behind our politicians drive to make Vancouver one of the most densely populated cities in north America and with that densification is more and more gang activity, depopulated schools, and increase [sic] poverty, [due] to the high cost of living. Of course let us not forget massive profits for shoddily built mega condos.
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(Because everyone knows that sprawling, low-density cities like Atlanta and LA don't suffer from gang violence, right?)
Quote:
Are today's urban forests and adjacent farmlands simply tomorrow's development projects held in reserve? Judging by how 'Eco-Density' and 'Smart-Growth' are unfolding in the Fraser Valley, one would think so.
I predict 'Eco-Doom' for agriculture, trees and wildlife.
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Quote:
I miss the trees, the green, the quiet of "low density" living areas every time I go into "high density" areas.
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(Those low-density areas sure are
beautiful, hmmm?)
So, this is what we're up against. Apparently density is responsible for destruction of the environment as well as all our social ills.
I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but do people not understand that density is a
good thing? Is this just an uninformed, but vocal, minority, or do people in general believe that density is some diabolical scheme dreamed up by developer-friendly politicians who want to destroy our natural areas by building high-rises? (And what do people think we're going to do instead of densifying? Are we just going to magically stop growing?)