The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
QUESTION: Do you think suburban cities have personality? Or do you think they’re pretty much all the same with the same type of buildings and the same stores?
Talk about it.
Not all are the same.
Like Alameda has a totally different feel than Concord.
Downtowns (the restaurant and shopping areas) have distinct personalities, but the residential areas are very similar.
This is the answer, right here.
What is considered suburban cities towns? I moved from Marinwood to Foster City in 1982, my husband was part owner in a company and it was sold, and so we had some extra money. At that time Foster CIty was cheaper than Marin. We decided on Foster City it was closer to my husbands work, close to the airport, (my ex travelled on business) we already with 3 couples that lived there, and had other friends in the area. However, I did find Foster City somewhat sterile, even though there’s nice parks, waterways, and it was very safe, and everything there, grocery stores, when my daughter started school and played soccer everything within a 10 minute drive. Shopping Center’s close by, Hillsdale, Fashion Island (no longer in existence) and Stanford. When my daughter graduated from high school, (I had been divorced for years, but stayed in Foster CIty) I decided to sell my townhouse and bought a condo in Benicia. I found Benicia had much more personality than Foster City, I loved being close to the water. I choose Benicia because it was close to several friends, I like going to Tahoe and Clear Lake and from Benicia you are already out of the Bay Area traffic, also loved being close to the wine country. So it I guess it depends, I don’t think Fairfield has a lot of personality, Clayton does.
They are all unique in their own special way. Some have a nice and pleasant feel about them, and some are not so nice and pleasant.
Urban cities like Oakland are to DIE for, with diversity, inclusion, and equity all around.
Equity, yes. In Oakland, we all have an equal chance of having our car broken into.
They used to have very different “personalities” …but over time they are beginning to all look & feel the same .. strip malls, high density housing push, too much traffic everywhere now, same stores .. 7-11s, Starbucks, Peets, UPS stores, etc.
Define suburban? Are we talking everything that isn’t in a major city? Meaning Alameda,, Berkeley, etc are suburban? If so yes of course they do. Or are we talking about suburban as places like WC, Brentwood, Concord, etc. Then very few do. Maybe Benicia, Orinda. Hard to define. Come on Claycord, your question is just another question