Housing In 'Smart Growth' Cities: Is It Really Worth The Cost?

Randal O'Toole argues that stringent land use regulations in "Smart Growth" areas translate into higher housing prices. Do these costs reflect greater livability or limited opportunity?

1 minute read

August 26, 2002, 6:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Defenders of land-use planning argue that planning makes cities more livable, so naturally they would be more desirable and thus housing would be more expensive. But is Portland really more livable than Albuquerque? Or Oakland more livable than Las Vegas? San Francisco is a fun place to visit, but is it really four times more livable than Phoenix?"

Thanks to Chris Steins

Monday, August 26, 2002 in Planetizen

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