Soul Deadening Suburbs?

(Miss Cheapist tests the suburban waters of a condominum pool)

This entry is dedicated to my dear friend T., who years ago, on the eve of her engagement, stated that a move to the suburbs was inevitable, given the high cost of living and limited school options in the city. Miss Cheapist protested that many working families make it in New York City by being resourceful (a.k.a. cheap), and seeking out as many opportunities as possible, meanwhile offering their children a culturally rich and multi-ethnic experience. Miss Cheapist wasn’t particularly persuasive, but perhaps other factors influenced T.'s change of heart, because a few weeks ago, she said would rather pay almost a million dollars for a Brooklyn duplex, so long as she didn't have to live in“the soul deadening suburbs.”

This past weekend Miss Cheapist spent time in an inner-ring suburb of Washington DC, and contemplated the question: Are the suburbs truly soul-deadening? During this time she basked in a condominium pool, cooling off after playing tennis in one of many community courts in suburb V, and doing extensive sales shopping at TJ Maxx, Target and Macys (at only 5% sales tax). In her blissed out state, Miss Cheapist came to a startling conclusion. In that vast unknown beyond New York City, there are probably suburban neighborhoods with redeeming qualities, even providing those accoutrements that we’ve come to love in the city at a cheaper price, and with even higher quality.

After all, suburban friend A. has a sizeable one-bedroom apartment in a full service building with 24 hour security and free parking. It's price: less than $300,000. Additionally, A. only pays common charges of approximately $300 per month. Compare that to an apartment in DUMBO, Brooklyn, of the same size costing nearly triple her price, (pre-construction), with common charges nearing $1000 per month, and NO PARKING for the 2007 Subaru 4WD. Furthermore, what does DUMBO have to offer in contrast to suburb V? The York Street F-train station, the soothing rumblings of the D/B train over the Manhattan Bridge, charming cobblestone streets that eat up kitten heels, and riverside city and state parks hostile to biking, fishing or people of color! In the name of hip sustenance, residents enjoy the fusion cuisine of the ever hip and insubstantial Rice restaurant, purhcase overpriced everything at Peas and Pickles grocery and treat themselves with the occasional Jacques Torres hot chocolate.

Reader note, Miss Cheapist is not here to endorse suburban living. That would be hypocritical. Miss Cheapist cannot leave the city until she overcomes her fear of houses and open stretches of land, and reduces her dependency on living near a full-service Chinatown. Instead, she wishes to highlight the absurdity of how urbanity has evolved into a more expensive version of suburban living. Read tomorrow's entry and see Miss Cheapist break down all the suburban components of an ideal lifestyle in NewYork, and tell her what’s really going on.