Urban Sprawl

Definition

Urban sprawl is a pejorative term for low-density development occurring in suburban and fringe urban areas. This phenomenon is characterized by:

Distance from Employment and Commercial Centers: Development spread out from the central business district and key commercial centers.
Dependence on Automobile Travel: Increased reliance on personal vehicles due to inadequate public transportation options.
Extended Public Infrastructure: Requirements for roads, utilities, and other public services expand as urban areas spread.
Little In-fill Development: New constructions rarely occur within existing urban fabric, instead opting for undeveloped land on the periphery.

Examples

Boom Town Expansion: A rapidly growing suburban area where housing developments and small commercial centers sprout across a network of county highways, leading to widespread urban sprawl. Residents frequently lament the inefficient growth management.
Sunbelt City: A city in the southern U.S., where unchecked suburban expansion led to high traffic congestion and extended commute times due to urban sprawl.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the main causes of urban sprawl?
- Urban sprawl is primarily caused by population growth, increased automobile use, affordable residential land outside the city center, and inadequate urban planning.
What are the environmental impacts of urban sprawl?
- Urban sprawl can lead to habitat loss, increased pollution, greater road traffic, and higher carbon emissions due to the reliance on personal vehicles.
Can urban sprawl be controlled?
- Yes, with effective urban planning which includes promoting in-fill development, strengthening public transportation networks, and ensuring sustainable land use practices, urban sprawl can be mitigated.

In-fill Development:
- Redevelopment or new development within existing urban areas. Focuses on making optimum use of existing infrastructure and reducing urban sprawl.
Smart Growth:
- An urban planning model that focuses on sustainable development practices to create more livable communities, preventing urban sprawl.
Suburbanization:
- The process of population movement from within cities to the suburbs, leading to urban sprawl.

Online Resources

References

Bruegmann, Robert. Sprawl: A Compact History. The University of Chicago Press, 2005.
Duany, Andres, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck. Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream. North Point Press, 2001.

Suggested Books for Further Studies

Jackson, Kenneth T. Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States. Oxford University Press, 1985.
Gillham, Oliver. The Limitless City: A Primer on the Urban Sprawl Debate. Island Press, 2002.
Downs, Anthony. Stuck in Traffic: Coping with Peak-Hour Traffic Congestion. Brookings Institution Press, 2004.

Real Estate Basics: Urban Sprawl Fundamentals Quiz

### 1: What primarily characterizes urban sprawl? - [ ] High-density urban living - [x] Low-density suburban development - [ ] Efficient public transport networks - [ ] Concentration of commercial centers > **Explanation:** Urban sprawl is primarily characterized by low-density suburban development, spreading out from central urban areas. ### 2: What is a major environmental concern related to urban sprawl? - [ ] Improvement in public transport - [x] Increased pollution due to vehicle reliance - [ ] Enhanced community interactions - [ ] Decrease in residential development > **Explanation:** A major environmental concern related to urban sprawl is increased pollution due to the high reliance on personal automobiles. ### 3: Which practice can help mitigate urban sprawl? - [x] In-fill development - [ ] Expanding highways - [ ] Encouraging suburban living - [ ] Increasing car usage incentives > **Explanation:** In-fill development can help mitigate urban sprawl by promoting growth within existing urban areas, making better use of available infrastructure. ### 4: What often expands alongside urban sprawl to meet new demands? - [ ] Decline of public infrastructure - [ ] Reduction in road networks - [x] Extended public infrastructure - [ ] Decreased commercial activities > **Explanation:** Public infrastructure often has to be expanded, including roads, utilities, and other services, to meet the demands of spread-out suburban development. ### 5: Which term refers to planned redevelopment within current urban boundaries to minimize sprawl? - [ ] Urban desertification - [x] In-fill development - [ ] Urban decrepitude - [ ] Suburban flight > **Explanation:** In-fill development refers to redevelopment or new development within existing urban boundaries, aiming to reduce the sprawl. ### 6: Why is there a reliance on automobiles in sprawl regions? - [ ] Due to the abundance of highways - [ ] Due to well-planned neighborhoods - [x] Due to inadequate public transportation - [ ] Due to proximity to commercial centers > **Explanation:** The inadequate public transportation systems in sprawl regions lead to higher dependence on personal vehicles for commuting and other travel. ### 7: Which type of growth approach focuses on sustainable, dense, and transit-oriented development to combat sprawl? - [ ] Suburbanization - [ ] Ubran Sprawl - [x] Smart Growth - [ ] Downzoning > **Explanation:** The Smart Growth approach focuses on sustainable, dense, and transit-oriented development to combat sprawl effectively. ### 8: What is one social impact of urban sprawl? - [ ] Enhanced daily interactions within communities - [ ] Reduced crime rates - [ ] Shorter commutes for residents - [x] Longer commute times and social polarization > **Explanation:** Urban sprawl often leads to longer commute times and social polarization, as communities are more spread out and less integrated. ### 9: Which urban issue does in-fill development directly address? - [ ] Increased crime rate - [ ] Low vehicular traffic - [x] Urban sprawl - [ ] Expanded green spaces > **Explanation:** In-fill development directly addresses urban sprawl by focusing development within already established urban areas, reducing the need for outward expansion. ### 10: How can urban sprawl affect housing affordability? - [ ] It decreases the demand for housing - [ ] It improves housing affordability significantly - [x] It can lead to higher housing costs due to infrastructure changes - [ ] It makes all housing cheaper > **Explanation:** Urban sprawl can lead to higher housing costs as extensive infrastructure changes are required to accommodate the spread, increasing the overall cost of living.