What Is This Thing Called Sprawl?

The concept of sprawl and its attributes are broken down in simple terms in this Q&A with Indiana University Professor John Ottensmann.

1 minute read

September 20, 2006, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

This "Question and Answer" interview acts as a basic primer on suburban sprawl. For the uncertain layperson, this brief discussion puts some meaning to the oft-used buzzword.

"Question: What is sprawl?

Answer: As a starting point, most people would say very low-density development, scattered or leap frog development, strip commercial development, those kind of things.

Nobody really has very good ways of measuring sprawl. The map you've got is very informative in that it shows where the greatest amount of new suburban development is occurring in various parts of the state.

Most of the new suburban development, not all, is the type of development that people would characterize as sprawl, that is, low density."

FULL STORY: Just what is sprawl, and why is it really a concern?

Sunday, September 17, 2006 in Journal and Courier

Housing Land Use Urban Development Indiana

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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