Remaking America's First Suburbs

"Like some television reality show, Nassau County, home to Levittown and other pioneering suburban developments, is in for a supreme makeover in the coming decade.

Yet this makeover will not come easy. Because of the usual controversies over scale and scope, Nassau's vision for stronger downtowns, diverse neighborhoods, next-generation housing, open space and expanded public transit will be difficult to achieve.

The brutal fact, however, is that Nassau County and many other older, inner-ring 'first' suburbs built after the end of World War II have little choice economically and physically if they want to survive and thrive."

"Remaking first suburbs will not happen overnight. It will require a new generation of government and business leaders who are willing to risk political and private capital. It will also demand a rethinking of obsolete, outdated suburban attitudes toward density, urbanity and diversity."