The New Urbanism: Hope or Hype for American Communities?

by William Fulton

Since the early 1980s, a growing group of planners and developers have rebelled against conventional suburban development as practiced in the U.S. since World War II. They offer an alternative vision of suburban neighborhoods and metropolitan regions, but can these “designer” communities successfully compete in today’s complex marketplace, and can they solve the problems of sprawl? This policy focus report reviews the history of new town planning and explores the potential of New Urbanism.

32 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1996