Suburban NationThe Rise of Sprawl and the Decline

of the American Dream

Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck

Presented by: Ben Barnes, Jessa Harger, Nathan Jones

Suburban Sprawl

• The Components of Sprawl

• The Effects of Sprawl

• Ways to Combat Sprawl

5 Components of Sprawl• Housing Subdivisions

• Shopping Malls

• Office Parks

• Civic Institutions

• Roadways

What is Distinct about Traditional

Neighborhoods• Neighborhood

Center

• 5 minute Walk

• Street Network

• Narrow Streets

• Mixed Use Zoning

• Special Sites for Special Buildings

Congested Traffic

• Collector Roads

• Single Use Zoning

• Useless Open Spaces

• Cul-de-sacs

• Interesting Intersections

The American Dream

• Segregation by Income

• Gated Communities

• Lack of mix of housing types

• Lack of Fronts and Backs

• 2 Illegal types of Affordable Housing– Living above the

Store

– Granny Flats

• 2 Forgotten Rules of Affordable Housing– Don’t Experiment

on the Poor– Limit the

Concentration of Housing Projects

Physical Creation Of Society

• Communal Space

• Time for Community

• Pedestrian Life– Wide Streets– Speed

• Wastefulness

• Crime

Transportation Mess

Suburban Sprawl

• The Components of Sprawl

• The Effects of Sprawl

• Ways to Combat Sprawl

Sprawl and the Developer

• Influence of Market Experts

• Traditional vs. Conventional Design

• Struggles with the Homebuilders

Victims of Sprawl

• Cul-De-Sac Kids and Bored Teenagers

• Soccer Moms

• Weary commuters

• Bankrupt Municipalities

• The Immobile Poor

The City and the Region

• “…we shall solve the city problem by leaving the city.” Henry Ford 1922 (p.135)

• Good Suburbs

• Suburbs that Help Cities

• Eight Steps to Regional Planning

Eight Steps to Regional Planning

• Admit Growth will occur• Establish a permanent Countryside Preserve• Establish a temporary Countryside Reserve• Designate the corridors • Establish Priority Development Sectors• Establish a proactive permitting process• Designate all other types of development as

districts

The Inner City

• The Amenity Package

• Civic Decorum

• Physical Health

• Retail Management

• Marketing

• Investment Security

DESIGN YOUR OWN CITY

Constrictions• A highway 2 miles

west of proposed site• A river cutting

through site in the south-eastern corner

• Densely forested area on the river bank

• Within growth ring of a medium sized city

You Will Need:• 500 homes• Schools• Public Transit• Business District• Retail Shops• Civic Buildings

• Community Centers• City Services

• Remember the importance of COMMUNITY!

Suburban Sprawl

• The Components of Sprawl

• The Effects of Sprawl

• Ways to Combat Sprawl

Ways to Combat Sprawl

• At the Local Level

• At the State Level

• At the Federal Level

At the Local Level

• Importance of Community on Political Agenda

• Change Current Regulations

• Become Pro-Active

• Think Globally, Act Locally, Plan Regionally

• Practice What you Preach

Change Current Regulations

• Encourage Public Transit• Walkable Neighborhoods• Maintain Natural Areas• Mix of houses, shops, workplace, recreation areas• Sidewalks• Narrow Streets• Parking• Public Playgrounds

At the State Level

• Transportation– Department of Transportation– Public Transportation

• Affordable Housing

At the Federal Level

• Taxes– Gasoline tax towards public transportation– Tax policies changed to encourage renovation

as much as construction

• Schools– Balanced resources for schools