The increase in the price of fuel encourages one St. Louis family to purchase a second home near work.
"Carol and Robert Miles recently realized that they were spending nearly $800 a month on gasoline. For that money, they figured they could buy a second house. So they did."
"The Mileses drive lots of miles. They live in De Soto and work in the city of St. Louis, a 100-mile daily round trip. They spend nearly an hour on the road each way. When gas was cheaper, the time was worth it. "We bought in DeSoto 15 years ago and it's beautiful. We have a lake lot, and it's peaceful, and I love it," says Mrs. Miles."
"Soon they'll see their De Soto home only on weekends. The monthly payment on their small, two-bedroom South St. Louis pied-à-terre will be $500, almost $300 less than their gasoline bill."
"The Mileses are an extreme case, but the sky-high price of fuel may be starting to have an effect on the housing market, although changes haven't shown up yet in St. Louis-area real estate statistics. Real estate agents, however, say buyers are factoring the price of gas into decisions on where they'll live and what they'll pay for a home."
FULL STORY: Gasoline prices: Ending sprawl?
Drivers Cling to Their SUVs
Even as SUV sales have dropped 33% this year, some drivers hang on to their gas-guzzlers. "You've got to have that room when you're moving around," says a Georgia man. The cost of switching is another major factor for families.
FHWA: Driving on US Roads at All-Time High
The end of some remote work policies and lower gas prices led to a rise in driving last year.
Arizona Tapping Groundwater to Fuel Suburban Growth
Critics say Arizona’s growth patterns are unsustainable and dangerous, given the depleted Colorado River and the state’s deepening reliance on groundwater.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
New York Passes Housing Package Focused on New Development and Adaptive Reuse
The FY 2025 budget includes a new tax incentive, funding for affordable housing on state land, and support for adaptive reuse and ADUs.
LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan
The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.
Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size
City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
