What Ever Happened To Smart Growth?

Does investment in smart growth represent a billion dollar misunderstanding?

1 minute read

June 17, 2005, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Smart growth policies, which became popular nationwide during the 1990s, are regulations designed to reduce suburban sprawl and control growth. They encourage people to live close together within walking distance of shops and offices. One goal is to reduce the use of the automobile; another is to create neighborhoods full of interesting “streetscapes”; and a third is to cluster people in high densities in order to preserve large areas of open space. Today, smart growth policies seem to be in retreat. Setbacks have occurred in Maryland, Virginia, and Oregon, and new census information suggests that the public does not really embrace the smart growth way of life."

Thanks to Kenneth Orski

Thursday, June 16, 2005 in Property & Environment Research Center

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