6.8 - Urban Sustainability

Urban Sustainability: the goal of improving social & economic conditions of an increasingly urbanized population while maintaining environmental quality

MAIN IDEA IS TO PREVENT URBAN SPRAWL

Sustainable Design Initiatives:

  1. Mixed land use (blending commercial and residential to create functional neighborhoods)

  2. Walkability (good for environment, economy, and socially)

  3. Transit-oriented development: the planning and construction of communities in greater density around or close to public transit stations (i.e. bus, tram, and metro stops) (helps environment and urban sprawl)

  4. Smart growth policies (helps urban sprawl)

Smart Growth: urban planning that concentrates growth in compact walkable urban centers to avoid sprawl

  • Mixed land use

  • Infill Development

  • Walkable Neighborhoods

Cons of Smart Growth:

  • Reverse white flight (minorities to suburbs, whites to city) can result in de facto segregation

  • Destruction of historical buildings

  • Could not be affordable due to the increase price of land

New urbanism was used to implement smart growth

  • Walkability

  • Variety of housing

  • Mixed land-use

Greenbelts

  • Ring of the countryside where urbanization will be resisted for the future

  • Preserves agriculture

  • Typical in Europe