Americans generally see bigger as better, and a desire for status combined with local government's desire to attract high-income residents often drives the development of large homes on large lots.
The average new American home is now 2400 square feet. Smart Growth advocates say we're buying big houses on big lawns and making the problem of urban sprawl worse.
To discuss this issue, Great Lakes Radio Consortium Senior Editor/Correspondent Lester Graham talks with Chris Micci, a land development manager for a residential homebuilder, and a former lobbyist for the Real Estate Building Industry Coalition in Charlotte, North Carolina.
FULL STORY: Interview: Why Big Houses?

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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)