As the topic states. Any chance New York will ever reach 10 million within our lifetimes? When you factor in the census undercount (illegal immigrants or simply people missed) it's probably closer to 9 million.

As the topic states. Any chance New York will ever reach 10 million within our lifetimes? When you factor in the census undercount (illegal immigrants or simply people missed) it's probably closer to 9 million.

Generally speaking, growth in American cities happens in two ways:

1. in a typical southwestern city, lots of land surrounds the city's core and is normally incorporated into city limits. For example: Houston and Phoenix. In these areas, the growth is clearly on the periphery. The city's population can soar, but the central part of the city may actually be declining in population at the same time.

2. in mature cities, the real growth comes mainly from immigration. immigrants, for the most part want to come to cities that are large enough to accomodate other people from their homelands; they want those ethnic communities to assist their comfort level as they transition into becoming American. they also want cities that are economically successful with diversity in the job market. this is the fuel behind increases in population in New York (and Chgo, LA, etc.).

will this population ever get NY's population up to the numbers you described? highly unlikely. many neighborhoods in Queens and other parts of the city will merely switch to new immigrant groups when the groups there now move on to non-ethnic city and suburban neighborhoods.

10 million? Easily. NY got more unused space than you think. I say that at current city limits it can go to a maximum of 15-20 million, maybe way more in the future when different ways of living are developed (like, I dunno, underground streets or something).

Im gonna go out on a limb and say NY will have 10 mil by 2020.

It's growing about 1 mil per decade. It's got 8 somethin now so 10 mil sounds good in about 15 more years. Or just around there. Maybe 9 and a half. :) There's lots of space begging to become skyscrapers.

It could annex surrounding urban burbs like Yonkers or Jersey City, but will that ever happen? Nah. :)

Yonkers? Maybe. JC? Never. Too much hassle, annexing a different state. Even though NY and JC skylines are close, they are totally different cities and even connection between them really sucks.

immigrants want those ethnic communities to assist their comfort level as they transition into becoming American. they also want cities that are economically successful with diversity in the job market. this is the fuel behind increases in population in New York (and Chgo, LA, etc.).

first point here is a myth. The second one's the correct one.

Alot of people fail to recognozie this, we have ALOT of parking lots and unused land in the outer buroughs. I mean tons! We could hit 20 million if we planned infrastructure correctly. Yes, we can accomidate it, will the people move here? I dunno.

I know I'm planning to move to NYC to go to college as soon as I finish high school. And I'm not the only one from my graduating class. I'd say that the general sentiment in the suburbs (Long Island) is that it's getting too expensive to live here and it's really boring.

Before people went to the suburbs because it was safer. However, now the crime has really gone down in the city and a lot of people are planning to move there for college and employment. I know that is definitely the case amongst more than a few of my friends and classmates.

depends what you mean with NYC!?!? Westchester and Newark? Or just Manhattan?

The subway system is going to need a lot of work in order to accomodate too many more people. 2nd Avenue will help, but there needs to be more East River crossings, especially for Queens, and Queens needs more lines. LIC has plenty of room to grow, but the subways are jammed.

Alot of people fail to recognozie this, we have ALOT of parking lots and unused land in the outer buroughs. I mean tons! We could hit 20 million if we planned infrastructure correctly. Yes, we can accomidate it, will the people move here? I dunno.
Thats what I mean. SI is still more empry space than houses, I think.
Even Manhattan Island used to have 2 million people at one point, and thats before the first residential highrise went up!

a day will come when all the buildings in the city are 30+ stories high ;)

And when they'll stop building big-box stores with large parking lot wastelands in Brooklyn.

The subway system is going to need a lot of work in order to accomodate too many more people. 2nd Avenue will help, but there needs to be more East River crossings, especially for Queens, and Queens needs more lines. LIC has plenty of room to grow, but the subways are jammed.


I think you're right. I'd also like to see a belt line connecting outer Brooklyn, Queens, and maybe connect with the 6 in S. Bronx. Many people have to get from one outer borough to another and the trip through Manhattan just makes subway travel unattractive for those trips. But looking at MTA's troubles ahead I wouldn't count on seeing much in the way of large infrastructure expansion (apart from 2nd Av) for another generation or so.

^^^ And that's a pathetic shame.

I think NYC should devellop their suburbs like HK if they really want to grow any further. Growing is difficult because at the time less people live in bigger homes. In 1900 maybe 4 to 6 people lived on average in a home. Now that is likely to be only 2 or 3 on average. And the homes have become much bigger.

Not to be morbid, but I think it's highly likely that at some point, enemies of the US with no return address (read "terrorists" ) are going to nuke the place.

I say the population will go down because of this.






KGB

And when they'll stop building big-box stores with large parking lot wastelands in Brooklyn.

Which not surprisingly tend to be packed with customers during business hours, and the closer they are to Manhattan, the busier they are.

Hmm if NYC were ever nuked...woa..couldn't imagine that. I think the country would crumble.