How to Manage the Sprawl in Growing Megacities

Around the world, people continue to move toward urbanized areas in search of opportunity. Developing megacities and megaregions must plan ahead for the continued growth, according to Bloomberg.

1 minute read

September 9, 2017, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Faced with the prospect of a larger and larger share of humanity moving to developed areas of the world, Peter Coy writes an article suggesting that "sprawl can be beautiful," if growth is managed well.

Coy's concern is with the growth of sprawling megacities, like Dhaka, Lagos, Manila, and Rio de Janeiro, countering those in rich western cities who romanticize "the ingenuity and perseverance of slum dwellers."

Coy is following the lead of a 2011 article from the McKinsey Global Institute titled "What’s the biggest limit on city growth? (Hint: it’s not steel or cement).” The answer to the trivia question, Coy explains, is management. New York, Paris, and Tokyo were all ungovernable at points in their development, says Coy, and developing megacities don't currently have the same advantages that now established cities had at similar points in their development.

As examples of better management and planning in developing cities, Coy points to Curitiba, with the leadership of Jaime Lerner, and Valledupar, in Colombia. The latter provides a repeated touch point throughout the article.

Sunday, September 10, 2017 in Bloomberg BusinessWeek

portrait of professional woman

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

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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

6 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

7 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today