ERE City (US)

[AxelHeyst]

JnG - I’d *love* to spend time in an urban repurposed warehouse style space. Spent some time in and around them in Oakland (an endangered if not extinct space type there, now, I’m afraid, particularly after the Ghost Ship fire.) My opinion counts for max half, though, since QH is my primary place. I’ll show up wherever EREcity sprouts.

[sodatrain]

P.S. Has anyone here looked into the legacy of architect Walter Segal? His design goal was simplified diy affordable home building. Very close to the traditional US platform framing way in some ways, with some clever inventions on top to make things even more diy friendly. His work obviously isn't up to energy standards anymore, but he has inspired quite a few architects.

Cool! Thanks for sharing. My GF is also finding it interesting! (She is an architect)

[Jean]

JnG - I’d *love* to spend time in an urban repurposed warehouse style space.

You'de be more than welcome at our place, if for some reason you cross the atlantic again.

[sodatrain]

My friend is basically trying to start something similar by buying up a bunch of property on this one street in New Orleans. He's trying to convince other people to move to the same street. It's the guy with the urban garden I used to live on (urban garden is on the street). I'm considering buying in, though my friend doesn't know that. He has a bit of a community going out there, though no permanent residents. He's had 2-3 friends move within walking distance, but not the same street or close enough to arbitrarily run into with much frequency.

This sounds interesting.... tell us more? What is the buy in? What do you get for that?

[AxelHeyst]

You'de be more than welcome at our place, if for some reason you cross the atlantic again.

If I cross the atlantic again there's no way I'm not visiting you.

[Jin+Guice]

@sodatrain: There is no buy in to the community. He's trying to get like minded people to buy property on the street as it goes up for sale. I'm thinking of making him an offer for part of one of his properties, but that is bc he is a close friend and I already lived there and I can move my bus-house there.

There are a few vacant lots on the street, so that's still an option. Not sure if any houses are for sale rn. Last vacant lot got turned into a mega-house but a professional cello player moved in so it's all gravy. All of the neighbors are cool.

He's running something very special out there, but it's very much what you make of it. New Orleans is basically pirate law, so you gotta be able to watch your own back to a certain extent.. but if you buy in you just have your own property so you can freak what you feel.

The next tier down is renting from him or woofing on his property.

[Jin+Guice]

Also if this is not clear, I will basically hang out with anyone if you visit New Orleans. Just make sure I'm free and here. If I have met you or if you have a bunch of forum posts, I will try to host you, but I live a precarious life, so def message me about it. I can also hook up people who want to Wwoof with my friend on the garden and he will def let you work trade to stay there. He is not ERE, but he is kind of like WL 6-7 except that he is not super into saving money. In many ways he is kind of doing what we are trying to do with community building, but in many ways he is not. His approach is very ERE compatible, i think.

[grundomatic]

Suggestion: Tucson, AZ, various neighborhoods

Tucson is a desert climate. Oct-May is amazing to be outside, the weather is why I moved here. There will be a few cold weeks tossed in there, but it’s generally going to be pleasant if the sun is out. Jun-Sep can be rough, with between 60-108 days over 100F. June will be hot and dry, then Jul-Sep is monsoon season, where showers will typically make it slightly cooler, but more humid. All year round there are big night/day temperature swings, making it possible to be outdoorsy even in the summertime, if you are willing to get up before the sun does at 5AM.

Politically, Arizona is considered a swing state in presidential elections. Locally, it’s more like Tucson is a blue island in a red state. Things feel more “polarized” than “moderate”, but it’s never been a problem for me since I don’t have (or voice) strong opinions. Outside election season I don’t see many signs–I think there are ordinances.

Tucson has developed in such a manner that it’s not a sprawling hell like Phoenix, but it’s not quite a dense, easily walkable city, either. If you are willing to walk 2 miles, sure, there will be a grocery store. The residential areas don’t always have sidewalks, and while the arterial streets do, they also have a lot of cars and pavement, making it loud, stinky, and hot. All the arterial streets do have bike lanes, though, making it possible to bike nearly anywhere, though with the same drawbacks as mentioned above. What’s better are the marked bike boulevards through residential areas and on minor roads. Lights let you cross major roads, and sometimes through traffic is blocked for cars, but not bikes. Speed bumps and roundabouts really try to slow traffic down and make the cars drive elsewhere.

Corbett neighborhood, pick this because one person is already here:

This is where we live. We picked our house because it was the only thing in our price range and distance to work radius that didn’t need a lot of work. It’s barely ERE affordable anymore, thanks to housing inflation. Overall the area fails our own “not looking run down” requirement, and probably the “not high crime” requirement as well, I’m not sure how to quantify it or objectify this. There is a Wal-Mart neighborhood market and a Harbor Freight tools. There are restaurants and one tiny park. The neighborhood is late 50s early 60s housing stock, formerly AFB housing. House by house and block by block can alternate between “nice” and “rough”.

One SFH under a quarter million in the entire neighborhood, little curb appeal:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5639 ... 0801_zpid/
More expensive new homes being built where the elementary school used to be:
https://www.zillow.com/community/corbet ... 3053_plid/
7 units sold together for maximum closeness:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5836 ... 2973_zpid/
Budget option just across the street from Corbett, if you can pay in cash and want to be part of a co-op:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1366 ... 8290_zpid/

Arroyo Chico, pick this for cheap produce and nice park nearby:

This neighborhood seems similar to Corbett as far as house types and prices, but it’s near Food City, my favorite place for cheap produce, and by Reid Park, where I’ve done “ERE walk and talks”. It also puts you closer to downtown and the university, for closer access to cultural events. I don’t know much else about it. I did drive through recently to do a bit of reconnaissance for this write-up, and just like my neighborhood, upkeep levels vary widely house to house.

Couple SFH:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2246 ... 3660_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2925 ... 3579_zpid/
Rental:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2110 ... 3176_zpid/

Catalina Foothills, the choice for the outdoorsy minimalist:

Here you are in the foothills of the mountains, as the name suggests. Nice views, wealthy neighbors. You are not in the city so you avoid city-type stuff (like the county chases off panhandlers at intersections, whereas the city “allows” it). There’s a grocery store and a handful of restaurants, but not many other businesses. You are 1.5 miles from Ventana Canyon trailhead, and about the same distance from Sabino Canyon recreation area, with endless trails.

I used to live in these apartments turned condos:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5751 ... 9845_zpid/

West University/Dunbar Spring, for the loaded hipster (ERE budgets can stop right here)

Be right by the university and the hip 4th Ave District, as well as downtown. This is mostly to sass @Slevin, because this is what it costs to live by Brad Lancaster.

Communal living if you like old house charm and upkeep:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/35-E ... 2852_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/27-E ... 3587_zpid/
SFH:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/607- ... 3862_zpid/

[Jethrofisher]

I'll put a plug in for Lancaster, PA and some of the surrounding towns. I live on the family farmette in the countryside.
Lancaster is No. 1. retirement destination according to U.S. News & World Report.
 Walk score: 81
Bike score: 58

Red Rose transit has multiple routes 10 miles into the countryside where old order amish and mennonites reside. Good Amtrak service east to Philly and west to Pittsburg. There are ALOT of immigrants to Lancaster County, meaning that cultural diversity is pretty high.

Food security is high with Lancaster County being the most productive non-irrigated county in the US. Lancaster city is home to the oldest publicly owned continuously running farmers market in America. If you are concerned about decline in America, this is a location that is uniquely situated to be able to weather many of the coming storms.

[jacob]

I'll put a plug in for Lancaster, PA and some of the surrounding towns.

Could you find some zillow et al links to go with your suggestion? I find it helpful both to see what's there, what's affordable, and which neighborhoods to concentrate on.

[jacob]

7 units sold together for maximum closeness:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5836 ... 2973_zpid/

I actually like this one... or rather the house type (the blue one). Small, simple, easy to maintain, and made out of bricks. I've seen such before when IIRC @C40 did his motorcycle tour. Are these types common in the SW?

[grundomatic]

I actually like this one... or rather the house type (the blue one). Small, simple, easy to maintain, and made out of bricks. I've seen such before when IIRC @C40 did his motorcycle tour. Are these types common in the SW?

Lots of brick houses in Tucson. Ones as small, simple, and square as that one aren't as common, but they are around. I filtered for less than 1000sq ft and found a few. The first is by my neighborhood, the other two are elsewhere in what I think is a just fine neighborhood.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6152 ... 1125_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1212 ... 3714_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5413 ... 5023_zpid/

[jacob]

@grundomatic - I notice the ground is rather dry in most all of the listings to put it mildly. Have you seen anyone growing vegetables in their backyard?

[Jethrofisher]

Could you find some zillow et al links to go with your suggestion? I find it helpful both to see what's there, what's affordable, and which neighborhoods to concentrate on.

Oddly enough, the first listing when I searched zillow for Lancaster, PA is a good location in my opinion. White middleclass neighborhood with young families and older couples. It probably won't stay on the market very long.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1021 ... 0885_zpid/

I am a carpenter by trade, and was on this street today installing countertops. The brick is painted and the second story appears to have aluminum siding. The roof is three tab shingles which should probably be replaced in the next ten years, but I can't tell without a closer inspection. It may not leak, but it's probably +20 years old. The backyard is flat enough for a garden and an outdoor cellar entrance.

This 1021 skyline drive address is 300 ft to nearest bus stop that takes you downtown with no transfers. 2.5 miles to downtown.

Personally, I would watch for a row house in the city that's a fixer upper below 100k. They come up for sale once in a while in hispanic or latino neighborhoods with somalian and/or syrian refugees scattered in.

Go real cheap with this trailer home only .5 miles from the nearest bus stop. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/208- ... 5885_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/326- ... 0725_zpid/

Lititz, Ephrata, Elizabethtown, Manheim, New Holland, Gap, Strasburg are all small towns/villages nearby that haven't been completely abandoned by young families.

[Jethrofisher]

Alternatively, for Lancaster, PA there's https://tiny-estates.com/
A coworker owns one of the lots with a home on it. I believe it may be overpriced and overhyped.
There are quite a number of places that have year round campers in RVs. Unfortunately, I don't have their locations or names but could do some research if someone was interested.

[Western Red Cedar]

I'll put a plug in for Lancaster, PA and some of the surrounding towns. I live on the family farmette in the countryside.
Lancaster is No. 1. retirement destination according to U.S. News & World Report.

Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run, talks about moving to Lancaster County in his book Running with Sherman. It sounded really nice and looks much more affordable than some of the other cities on this list.

-----

I would find it extremely ironic if ERE city ended up in Tucson, or any city that gets its water from the Colorado River. (I hope this comment doesn't derail your master plans @grundomatic )

[Jin+Guice]

I am anti-Lancaster. I grew up in the neighboring county. The irony of all of my favorite people collectively moving to my least favorite place.

[AxelHeyst]

I would find it extremely ironic if ERE city ended up in Tucson, or any city that gets its water from the Colorado River. (I hope this comment doesn't derail your master plans @grundomatic )

Then again, Brad Lancaster lives in Tucson.

For example, in my desert city of Tucson, Arizona (where we get an average of 11 inches [280 mm] of annual rainfall), more water falls as rain on our city in an average year than the entire population of the city (over half a million residents) consumes of municipal water (the bulk of which is imported/pumped in at great cost from the Colorado River over 300 miles away) in a year. So, we’d typically have more free local water than we need if we’d consciously harvest it, rather than wastefully drain it away. And we don’t need any fancy equipment or large infrastructure to do so.

An interesting *possible* future scenario for drylands areas is that everything goes to hell there because all the cities depend on the Colorado, leading to massive area depopulation... leaving behind just the scrappy little communities of cooperatively self-sufficient Renaissance permaculturalists getting along just fine with their loosely-coupled FEW (food energy water) systems, shaking their heads at the news reports of all the violence [and diseases] going on in more Northern areas where all the climate refugees jammed themselves into. One could argue that the SW is a uniquely ideal place for a web of EREers to settle...

[chenda]

I am anti-Lancaster. I grew up in the neighboring county. The irony of all of my favorite people collectively moving to my least favorite place.

I endorse your anti-Lancaster sentiments. I knew a girl from Lancaster, lovely girl who was married to a local boy from a young age. Unfortunately he was visiting prostitutes in Baltimore with some regularity and the local community orchestrated her for divorcing him because it was apparently all her fault.

[guitarplayer]

Wow @AxelHeyst this is a very nice contrarian proposition. Plus I suspect you've not pulled it out of thin air as you are desert(ish?) based.