fresno_builder

Hmm...2050, well, I'll be 66 yo. In Fresno (pop. ~500k) We'll prolly be part of a megalopolis stretching from Tijuana to Chico (SAN-SAN) along the I-5 corridor. A more fully integrated freeway system will connect most of California together. High-speed rail will prolly be in operation in limited areas (maybe maglev? *fingers crossed) Water will continue to be an issue, but less due to farms and more due to sprawl. California's population will be 45M + (low end) to 75M + Nationally and Internationally: Regional Authorities will have more sway than national governments. Larger Urban Corridors will exist, but also many more edge city, exurban, new urbanism, suburban, planned communities will be around. (For example, Vancouver to Portland; Boston to D.C.; Greater Atlanta; Miami-Tampa-Orlando; DFW-San Antonio-Houston) This trend will also be international with Japan becoming even more integrated (yes, I do think they will overcome their negative population with moderate immigration reforms) More walls will be built world-wide in a trend of isolationism that will eventually cool as the global economy is shaken by sporadic deflationary shocks (18-36 mos) and a longer term global recession (5-7 yrs) in the mid-teens to 20s. But information tech will allow third-world countries (think Indonesia, etc) to bypass standard industrialization and grow their economies rapidly while the rest of the world is in recession. Global capitalism will become both more centralized in the hands of multinationals and also become more democratic as people literally vote with their dollars, yen, euros, etc. (lots of paradoxes, but alas, history is the story of them. Global trade and investment will spark new research into medicine, space, agriculture, industry, and tech...leading to more global prosperity but also more volatility in politics as new ideas have to integrate into old ways of thinking. (oh, and just for kicks: when we all live in MegaCities, cities will all be renamed!!! Some examples: New Hartyorkadelphia, District of Bosto-Philtamore; Port Van Coma Bellingatlle; Sacracisco Josedesto Fresfield Angelego; Mia-lan-pa; Chicawaukee; and last but not least: Birlantannastonville)

Merry Christmas and Congrats Louisville!!!! Your New Urbanism was a real gem and Eureka is shaping up to be a tasty treat. You deserved that Trixie...Congrats again!!!! BTW...do you think we have seen the last of old Petey?