Presentation for a 4-person panel on Smart Housing Choices in a Changing Environment, at the 9th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference in Seattle on Feb. 4, 2010

1. 1950 Average New Home
980 square feet for 3.4 people (6)
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2. Society A Society B
 Everyone lives in 3,800-  Everyone lives in 2,000-
square-foot houses and square-foot houses and
has no free time for has 45 minutes available
exercise each day. for exercise each day.
 Everyone lives in 3,800-  Everyone lives in 2,000-
square-foot houses and square-foot houses and
has time to get together has time to get together
with friends one evening with friends four evenings
each month. each month.
 Everyone lives in 3,800-  Everyone lives in 2,000-
square-foot houses and square-foot houses and
has one week of has four weeks of
vacation each year. vacation each year.
Adapted from Robert H. Frank, Falling Behind
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3. 1950 Average New Home
980 square feet for 3.4 people (6)
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4. 1960’s
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5. 1970’s
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6. 1980’s
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7. 1990’s
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8. 2000’s
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9. NOW: 5,000-8,000 Sq. Ft. Homes
For 2.6
people
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10. Energy, Environment, Economy, People:
Tipping Points are here
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11. Arbor Day Planting Map
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12. Not enough people make enough money
to buy what we pretended they could
http://ab.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5523754908833010536c48f53970c-800wi
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13. 27 Floridas
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14. Lessons from & for the Future
 Four converging forces
 Income gap economics &
Debtor society
 Century of cheap energy ends
 Climate change and life style
 Demographic mismatches
 Still further to go to match housing
cost and real incomes
 We actually know what to do
 Make Philly legal
 Modify values toward modesty
 Downsize attractively
 Build green
 Build age friendly
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15. The Future is Something We Do
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