The American Dream Is Alive And Well In California

Are the days numbered for the American Dream of detached homes and automobility, as some anti-sprawl activists would have us believe?

1 minute read

December 13, 2002, 8:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"The findings of this study present an interesting challenge to planners and policymakers and should serve as a cautionary tale for those who aim to dramatically reshape future forms of growth. The type of growth and development most palatable to consumers is not the “new urbanist” vision promoted by many “smart growth” advocates, but one that more accurately reflects the realities of consumer demand and lifestyle preferences. Most California residents prefer to live in detached, single-family homes in low-density neighborhoods, and most prefer to drive alone to work. It is not unreasonable to expect that similar surveys conducted elsewhere in the country would produce comparable results, so 'smart growth' advocates may face an uphill battle in convincing Americans to abandon their well-established housing and commuting preferences."

Thanks to George Passantino

Monday, December 9, 2002 in Reason Public Policy Institute

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