Let's be a little more precise with language. The word "condo" has come to be a dirty word, but it can be taken to mean anything from, say a triplex to a 40 story fancy highrise.
In its a pejorative sense, from the standpoint of single family home residents, "condo" dwellers, are those strange people who are financially able to purchase proper homes, but choose not to. To live in a (rented) apartment is okay for a while if you are young or of insufficient means, but to purchase a "condo" is indecent. I personally think buildings above about 5-6 storys put people out of touch with the rest of their city. A rule of thumb might be anything higher than shouting distance from the world below. Another phrase that should be tossed out of the language all together is "open space". Call it parkland, call it public space, public realm, but "open space" is a vague term that confuses the urban and rural, and fails to properly address issues of the public realm in the urban context. I went to see author and urbanist James Howard Kunstler speak a couple of months ago in Wisconsin, and he recounted a story of speaking to a group in Missoula, Montana. The residents there in the meeting had decided that what their city really needed was more "open space", even though they are surrounded by some of the greatest wilderness in the lower 48 states. Kunstler said that what they really needed was more "closed" space. More urban space. Mike Jensvold East Isles language policeman REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
