Suburban Nation

is Sprawl?

Suburban sprawl has defined development in the U.S. since World War II. Sprawl is a rootless gathering of housing developments, strip malls, and office parks. Each type of property is strictly segregated, so that you can’t even go to the store to buy a gallon of milk on foot. Instead, you must drive - everywhere. The low density of development requires miles of roads. Sprawl’s inevitable result is congested traffic. Because sprawl emphasizes private spaces inside homes and offices over public spaces along streets, parks, and front porches, residents feel a growing sense of isolation and unease about the places where they live and work.

Traditional neighborhood development stands in direct contrast to sprawl. This philosophy was the basis of all settlement in North America through World War II, and is the prevalent development pattern outside the United States. Traditional neighborhoods are mixed-use communities. In other words, homes, offices, and stores occupy the same block. Traditional neighborhoods are pedestrian-friendly, with sidewalks for strolling from homes to stores.

A growing movement - away from sprawl and toward more traditional neighborhoods...