Visiting Sprawl

As critics see it, the sins of suburban growth, also known as suburban sprawl, are both physical and psychological. Sprawl gobbles up pristine green space, and because suburban growth is so thoroughly oriented toward the automobile, it adds to traffic congestion and air pollution... But, say urban planners, before totally denigrating suburban sprawl, it is important to recognize two potentially redeeming factors: the American version of the automobile-oriented suburbs has no analogue in the world; and from a historical perspective, suburban sprawl is a relatively young phenomenon that is continually evolving, which means its shape can be altered. Editor's note: The full text of this article is available only to ULI members.

Thanks to Urban Land Magazine