Americans move on the average of once every seven years, primarily for increased economic opportunity or housing upgrades. This type of transition does not allow for deep ties to a specific community but indicates a greater value on a type of house rather than to a specific location. This kind of transience is made easier by the fact that housing units are often so similar from one part of the county to another that families can do this with very little social upheaval. How are these aspects of the built environment different from Santa Fe's traditional cultural and building patterns. In Santa Fe's historic areas or those areas that were built before institutionalization of zoning and subdivision regulations, each street with its angles and corners is unique, thus providing visual adventure.
Streets are small, winding and never uniform in width and length.
The streets follow natural topographical constraints and are closely patterned around hills, vegetation, drainage systems, water access and spiritual points. Streets are clearly not designed around the car as may a frustrated visitor can testify. The streets themselves are of secondary importance to the landscape and housing. The street patterns and size are less of a feature than the massing of walls, portals and other architectural elements which demonstrate the fabric of the urbanscape. The housing blends with the street not simply placed on individual lots.