Critics claim tech companies such as Apple and Google are guilty of repeating past mistakes of urban development by creating suburban campuses that isolate themselves from the surrounding community.

In an article in Collectors Weekly, Hunter Oatman-Stanford speaks with Louise Mozingo, author of the book Pastoral Capitalism: A History of Suburban Corporate Landscapes, about the history of suburban office parks and how current developments reflect some of the worst aspects of urban planning from the past. Mozingo lumps Apple's new campus in Cupertino, California, dubbed the "spaceship," into a typology of development known as pastoral capitalism. Essentially, a shift from the urban environment of the city to a more suburban style campus, surrounded by green fields and featuring lots of parking that encouraged workers to drive alone.
Even the shift to personal vehicles rather than public transit was hailed as a perk: Private cars were supposedly more reliable and allowed for more flexible work schedules, particularly in an era before highways were clogged with traffic. In actuality, this encouraged employees to extend their workday past the standard hours of nine-to-five, and helped isolated workers to ensure company loyalty. “This is something that Silicon Valley companies still do—they capture the employee for the entire day,” Mozingo says.
The isolation of workers in these campuses had negative effects on surrounding communities, as Mozingo notes. Workers who see nothing but the roads they use to commute back and forth and their coworkers in company owned building, have no investment in the improvement of the community: "If you always rely on ride-hailing apps, why would you care if the sidewalk gets cleaned or repaired?"
FULL STORY: Why Are America's Most Innovative Companies Still Stuck in 1950s Suburbia?

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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