In search of space and affordability, American families are increasingly moving to suburbs and exurbs.

Suburban sprawl is nothing new to U.S. cities, but, as we have noted repeatedly over the last two years, the pandemic has accelerated the dispersal of urban households to suburbs and exurbs and reduced Americans' appetite for public transit. But high rents in urban cores have been driving the trend since well before the pandemic. And, as Patrick Sisson writes, "with growth has come a familiar set of challenges, including traffic, environmental damage and city services that struggle to reach a spread-out population."
To meet rising demand for new homes, developers are building on undeveloped suburban fringes rather than urban infill properties with more difficult permitting processes. "Indeed, the ascendance of sprawl is a source of dismay for historic foes of this land- and energy-intensive development pattern, which bakes-in car-centric lifestyles and strains resources like water."
While some cities are enacting zoning reforms and pro-density policies to increase affordability and fight climate change, Sisson says "those factors are not nearly enough to offset the magnetic pull of cheap land." While local leaders embrace walkability and density as goals, many households are still forced to seek affordability outside central cities. Meanwhile, build-to-rent developers are capitalizing on the need from people who can't afford homeownership but want the space and amenities offered by single-family homes.
FULL STORY: How the Pandemic Supercharged Sprawl

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.

Orange County Project Could Go Forward Under ‘Builder’s Remedy’
The nation’s largest home builder could receive approval for a 530-unit development under an obscure state law as the city of La Habra’s zoning laws hang in limbo after the state rejected its proposed housing plan.

Memphis: Crime-fighting Camera Sheds Light on Police Abuse
The irony is unmistakable. Public surveillance cameras, long controversial in the criminal justice community, provided pivotal video footage of the beating of motorist Tyre Nichols by five Memphis police officers at a traffic stop on January 7.

How Autonomous Cars Could Impact Energy Use
The complex algorithms used by self-driving vehicle technology use massive amounts of energy, which could lead to a steep rise in carbon emissions as autonomous cars become more commonplace.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
York County, Human Resources
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
City of Piedmont, CA
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.