Pave It Or Save It?

Sprawl – haphazard, auto-oriented development characterized by strip malls outside of existing downtown centers and McMansion subdivisions in formerly rural areas – is threatening water resources and quality of life in the East-of-Hudson New York City Watershed and throughout the Hudson Valley. Over the last 30 years, the New York City-metro area experienced a 13% population increase, but a 60% increase in urbanized land. Citing sprawl as the chief culprit, in 2000 the National Trust for Historic Preservation designated the Hudson Valley as one of America’s most endangered historic places. Under the false guise of economic growth, careless development is consuming precious resources, disrupting local economies, undermining civic life, and threatening public health. Moreover, as sprawl persists, drinking water quality declines.

This report discusses the environmental, economic, and social impacts of sprawl, with an aim to educate citizens and public officials about sprawl and to give them the ammunition necessary to fight sprawl projects in their communities.

Thanks to Chris Steins