Jan 12-17

For assignment two I will take the perspective of a childless couple. In the search for a location to live, being childless has many advantages. For instance, finding a good school or the safest neighborhood is no real concern to my partner and I. We have yet to establish a family and do not plan on doing so in the near future. Also, we do not carry the same financial burden that other couples do as parents and have the freedom to spend a little more money on a home or do just the opposite and choose to live in a home that is less valuable, meaning we would chose land use over land value. We both have stable jobs as social workers and at this point can choose to commute to our workplace. According to the cocentric zone model, an ideal place for a couple like us exists in the skilled workers zone and those that follow, which would require a commute. However, my partner and I are less interested in living comfortable lives away from the city and more interested in sustainability, community development and gentrification.  Because of the nature of our interests and influences, we will choose to live in the central zone, making our commute less of a hazard on the environment. We will make it a priority to strengthen the already existing communities by way of our involvement in social work and community organizations and express our desire to include these existing communities in the gentrification of downtown Phoenix (gentrification meaning the transformation of a downtown's culture). Being near the central business district would also give us a place to enjoy some play. With all that said, the best location for us to live would be between the central business district and the skilled workers zone, which works great for our cause as a couple because it is where the impoverished neighborhoods are located. Furthermore, work and play would be provided in the cbd, our commitment to community development would be met in the transition zone and friends and family would still be accessible in the outer circles. Thus, we have chosen a home in the center of the city.

Background:

I based this example on a couple who live in my neighborhood. They are childless, the husband is a social worker and his wife is a graphic designer but the time she devotes to others is a social work in of itself. They both grew up in Scottsdale and have steady jobs. However, they long to see their neighborhood and state transformed beginning in the inner city and making its way outward. Thus, they have chosen to live in an impoverished neighborhood just a minute or so from the central business district of downtown Phoenix. Community is a great strength and passion of theirs. They host neighborhood meetings, porch parties, Sunday brunch and community work days. They are currently partnered with the organization of mention in my previous blog.