Smart Growth Without New Urbanism: Recipe For Disaster?

A columnist profiles how smart growth can go horribly wrong.

1 minute read

May 22, 2002, 4:00 AM PDT

"If you've spent any time around urban-planning wonks who trade regional economic statistics like Dilbert jokes around the water cooler, then you've probably heard of the term "smart growth." The modifier attempts to distinguish the term from the mindless urban growth of previous eras that allowed single-family homes and office parks to sprawl in the suburbs, while cities, with their infrastructure of housing, public transport and commercial centers, languished with declining or stagnant populations, depleted tax revenues and traffic congestion... But as anyone with two firing neurons can see, the development happening in her neighborhood is deplorable on many levels, and it offers a vivid picture of how stupid supposedly smart growth can be."

Thanks to The Practice of New Urbanism

FULL STORY: Stopping Suburban Sprawl

Tuesday, May 21, 2002 in The San Francisco Chronicle

Land Use United States

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