Post-Sprawl Metropolis: Planning for the Transition to Sustainability

Jennifer Wolch

Department of Geography

USC Sustainable Cities Program

Building the sustainable metropolis: Key challenge of post-sprawl era

What is sustainability? The four E’s Environment: insure long-term viability of

ecosystem and continued provision of “nature’s services”

Economy: secure high quality of life for current and future generations

Equity: promote social justice for people as well as nature

Engagement: involve full spectrum of stakeholder groups and residents in planning and policy

Why ‘sprawl’ may be less sustainable than other forms of urbanization Environment

Resource intensive Land/habitat consumptive

Economy May not reflect consumer preferences Can limit regional development

Equity Reinforces social polarization Exacerbates fiscal inequities

Engagement Fragments regional identity and dialogue

The way from here to there Using life-cycle & cross-cutting indicators Rethinking ‘non-urban’ policy arenas Collaborating across race, class, nation &

species Building cross-stakeholder coalitions Constructing bold demonstration projects

Academic-developer collaboration Building green & clean Mixed use, mixed densities, mixed

incomes Education for coexistence Understanding cats & dogs (and ‘gators

too)

Ideas from Harmony, Florida