Ein Gastbeitrag von Hannah Burnham
No middle-class house in American suburbia is complete without a garage that can host at least one car. Garages are romantic, idealized destinations where the American Dream comes true and people of all ages become billionaires and rock-stars. The American garage lends itself to being a point of creativity for these groups, becoming the birthplace of Apple and Disney, as well as grunge bands like Nirvana and the Ramones. However, like all aspects of the American dream, its realization is reserved for those above a certain socio-economic status. The level to which one has acquired the American dream can be seen by the size and extravagance of one’s garage. In a neighborhood in Northern Utah, house prices rise from the bottom of a hill – where many of the houses do not even have a garage – to the houses with 3-car garages. This is typical of this neighborhood, as it is growing rapidly as a destination for many wealthy families and retirees building their dream homes further up the mountain. According to RedFin, house prices in North Ogden are around $570,000, while houses in Central Ogden are around $405,000. This contrast can be seen from the presence and size of garages in a spatial map.
