The Larger They Come, The Harder They Fall

"At a time when real estate in its sprawling forms appears to be losing value more quickly than compact urban development, analyses of the market for New Urbanism and smart growth are relatively favorable."

"A key to the future is the sectors of the population that will be on the upswing. Eighty-eight percent of the nation’s growth between 2005 and 2030 will consist of households without children, reports Arthur C. Nelson, co-director of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech in Alexandria. Overwhelmingly, the demand for new housing will focus on multifamily and small-lot single-family units possessing smart-growth characteristics such as walkable neighborhoods, he says."

"The 'Modern Communities' report released by GfK Roper Consulting tracked a decline in the desirability and prestige of gated communities. Only 17 percent of Americans — and 15 percent of 'influentials' — think that gates are part of an ideal neighborhood, about half as many as thought so in the mid-1990s. More people are valuing elements that point toward smart growth, such as walking distance to small shops and inclusion of parks, civic buildings, and churches."