Why The Smart Growth Movement Will Fail

Proponents have a lot of work to do if they want smart growth to move from the margin into the mainstream.

1 minute read

June 17, 2002, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


As long as the sprawl industry can make money it is not likely to restructure itself. Ultimately, consumer demand will determine the degree of success for smart growth, not conferences nor books. The smart growth movement needs to focus more on markets, housing consumers, and the supply-demand equation, and less on noble big-picture benefits. When smart growth serves selfish interests it will succeed on a large scale. And it can do this. It is not about saving the environment or the planet. It must be about giving people some very tangible benefits, not the least of which is better personal health.

Thanks to Chris Steins

Sunday, June 16, 2002 in Planetizen

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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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