Anthony Downs provides an overview of sprawl and smart growth. He evaluates the costs/savings of smart growth and argues that smart growth needs to embrace affordable housing if it is to be successful.
"How large would the cost savings from smart growth be in the next 25 years if it could be applied on a national scale? The total saving vs. sprawl over 25 years was about $600 billion, or $24 billion per year... Thus, the long-range impact of smart growth on the state's economy would be a mixed bag --better than pure sprawl, but far short of what smart growth's strong proponents hope for... Whether you call it smart growth or not, you [New Jersey] are at least moving towards exercising more intelligent control over your future than just "letting it happen" as in the past."
Thanks to Kurt Sommer
Read the full story: The Impacts Of Smart Growth Upon The Economy
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Housing is the top priority of Seattle’s sole new councilmember
Jenks campaigned on building 1,000 new units of affordable housing.
New tax cuts may slash $1.5 billion in funding for Miami transit, public parks
Amendment 3 will save Miami-Dade residents homeowners $2,700 in 2028.
Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms
The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority