Sprawl

Rocking the Suburbs © Ben Folds

What is the American Dream?

Sprawl

General definition of term:

“To spread out in an awkward or uneven way, esp. so as to take up more space than is necessary”1

Urban SprawlSprawl:

The increased use of urbanized land by fewer people than in the past. 

• Traditional cities were compact and efficient, but over the past 30-50 years, the density of land used per person has decline drastically. 

• Although the U.S. population grew by 17 % from 1982 -1997, urbanized land increased by 47 % during the same 15 year period.2  

• The developed acreage per person has nearly doubled in the past 20 years, and housing lots larger than 10 acres have accounted for 55 percent of land developed since 1994, according to the American Farmland Trust.

Suburban Sprawl

Little Boxes- Theme song

Far From All Amenities

The Grid System

High dependency on vehicles (to get to work, school, store, etc.)

Low physical activity

Anti-social

– Leapfrog, scattered development

– Car-centered

– Workplace, homes and shopping centers isolated3

•Occurs when large, continuous forests are divided into smaller blocks, either by roads, clearing for agriculture, urbanization, or other human development

•Increased fragmentation due to urban development poses a threat to biodiversity primarily in animal populations, as their habitats are chopped up (fragmented) into smaller and smaller pieces

Forest Fragmentation

Why sprawl?• Population expansion

• Urban flight

• “American Dream”

• Financial incentives

- Low mortgage rates

- New development apparently cheaper than redevelopment

• Businesses left cities

• Highway system

Social Impacts of Sprawl• Increased traffic• Sedentary lifestyle

– Greater time spent commuting – Less active lifestyle– Neighborhoods have less

sidewalks, accessible activities, nothing in walking distances

• Greater isolation• Growth into urban-wildland

interface• Less community structure• Economic impacts of services

Health Impacts of Sprawl Obesity, overweight from decreased exercise

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes High blood pressure, hypertension Immune function, susceptibility to pathogens

Respiratory diseases

Vector-borne diseases

Motor vehicle–pedestrian, bicyclist fatalities

Contaminants in runoff; turbidity and pathogen risks

Isolation and depression / social capital

Ecological Effects of Sprawl

• Loss of open space

• Loss of contiguous habitats

• Increase in lower quality habitats, decreased habitat structure

• Contaminants in ecosystem

• Changes in watershed patterns

• Decreased air quality impacts on plant growth and function

Financial Impacts of Sprawl

• Existing residents subsidize new development and growth

• Expansion beyond planning capacity (schools, roads, emergency, utilities, water and sewer lines, infrastructure)

• Costs of maintenance

• Developers benefit

Commuter traffic

More oil (gas).. More pollution… Social Barriers….

New Urbanism

News Broadcast Explanation:

New Urbanism

Interactive site for kids

Increased:

• Connectedness

a) Interconnected street grid reduces traffic

b) Promotes walking, biking, etc.

•Sustainability

• Walking distance to amenities

-Pedestrian friendly

-no necessity further than a 10-15 min walk (including work and school)

• Social interaction

• Diversity (eventually)

SimCity

http://simcity.ea.com/play/classic/index.html

http://www.download.com/Sim-City-2000/3000-7480_4-10246048.html

http://www.download.com/SimCity-Societies-demo/3000-7480_4-10853476.html

Sources1 "Sprawl." YourDictionary.com. 2009 . LoveToKnow, Corp.. 9 Mar 2009

<http://www.yourdictionary.com/sprawl>.

2 LaGro, James A. Jr.. "Population growth beyond the urban fringe: implications for rural land use policy." Elsevier Science B.V Vol 28, issue 2-302 July 2002 143-158 . 9 Mar 2009.

3 Pallant, Eric. “Impacts of Sprawl.” Allegheny College, Meadville, PA. Fall 2008. <http://webpub.allegheny.edu/dept/envisci/ES110/archives/ppts/ES110_08F_ImpactsOfSprawl.ppt>