Essence of Sustainability

Challenges that strong and weak markets alike share

2 minute read

March 1, 2013, 7:03 AM PST

By Charles Buki


Struggling Rust Belt cities in Ohio may seem a million miles away from tech-corridor creative class communities challenge-wise, and in many respects they truly are.  Despite many differences, their common denominator is that neither is sustainable, not really; and in cases at either end of spectrum, this is largely because both lack economic diversity.  Whether the scale is the city (Baltimore, Philadelphia, Buffalo on one hand, Santa Fe, Austin, Raleigh on the other), the neighborhood (Roland Park on one hand, and McElderry Park on the other), or the region, important sustainability issues require attention.

In many Rust Belt cities, the result is that it’s almost impossible to balance the municipal budget because of concentrated weakness in urban housing markets that have sagged for decades and pushed out their middle class .  In creative class places, the result is that it’s almost impossible to trim the many off-loaded costs of resulting sprawl that owes much the power because of concentrated strength (see William Fischel's still utterly superb Homevoter Hypothesis), and resulting sacredness of certain value-generating cows (like height and open space preservation).  The former's concentrated weaknesses have pushed and continues to push out the middle; the latter's concentrated strengths pushed and continues to do the same.

A major system challenge of course is that strengths and weaknesses when super-concentrated become self-fulfilling engines of their own.  Genuine (fiscal as well as environmental) sustainability hinges on teachers not living far from doctors and janitors not living far from cops and college professors not living far from machinists, which is not an invitation to have another spatial mismatch debate so much as it is to decide how important the middle really is.

Does form matter?  Of course.  Height and density are an essential part of any middle-oriented discussion in a strong market, without which the revenue needed to achieve balance will simply be missing.  Does product matter?  No question.  Yards and garages, enough space for kids, and modern conveniences are all boxes that have to checked for families to be a part of any community's future in any real numbers.  But middle class flight from weak markets and an inability to buy into strong markets share the common thread of class and persistent race conflict, which is far more central to sustainability than gray water systems and farm to table plans.


Charles Buki

Charles Buki is principal of czb, a Virginia-based neighborhood planning firm specializing in deep dive analysis, strategy development, and implementation of revitalization plans.

portrait of professional woman

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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

July 2 - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

July 2 - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square