1.  Before World War II, urban planning was based on the pedestrian. Through logical planning based on the ideal that one can walk or take mass transit to any of his daily needs. Public investment in infrastructure was in the form of streetcars, subways, trains etc.

2.  After World War II, urban planning became based on the automobile. Government policy and racial undertone pushed the population out of the central city into the suburbs. The mixes of uses in the central city became segmented where people lived in one area, shopped in another, and worked in another. The car was required to travel these distances. Public investment, especially from the federal government, was devoted mainly to highways and roads.

3.  A new paradigm emerged called New Urbanism that sought to bring back the ideals of traditional urbanism.  When introduced, the environment was such that New Urbanism could not break into mainstream thinking in urban planning.  They found someone who saw the value and the Founders of this movement designed the now famous Seaside, Florida. New Urbanism is currently fighting to get past the impression that it is elitist and nostalgic. 

5.  Now, to get past that impression is to understand that traditional urbanism can fix existing downtowns and bring smart, dense development to the suburbs. Take the concepts of urbanism and apply them to these markets.

6.  How can these concepts be incorporated into the suburbs?  Changing the mindset of everyone involved.  Educating city leaders, civic leaders and residents, making them understand that if they keep embracing the suburban model, they will be passed by nearby cities who more proactively embrace traditional urban concepts.

7.  Who incorporates them?  It takes like-minded developers, planners, architects and receptive, educated city leaders.  Developers must use political will to make city leaders grasp that, in the long view, this is the way to plan their growth.

8.  A project in Naperville, Illinois is exactly an example of this urbanization of a suburb. The project’s aim is to add density and expand the existing vibrant, yet small downtown to include another district that includes great buildings on great streets and a plaza.  We met initial resistance from the establishment, but currently nearly all are convinced.  In the end, this project will be of great benefit to the community.

9.  A project in Northern Indiana is an example of an infill project that turned momentum for a depressed downtown.  The City had plans to demolish this block of historic buildings to make way for new development.  Now, the buildings are being adapted to new uses and starting to bring people back to the Downtown. 

As suburban sprawl carves its path through our nation’s heartland, homes are getting bigger and bigger. For some reason, everyone needs a couple extra bedrooms, workout room, wine cellar, media room, snore room, great room, and a study. Since the dawn of habitas, humans have loved to show off their homes and features within. This seemingly innocent, if slightly prideful condition has turned into a free-for-all of excess.

But what does it all get you? In most houses equipped with all the aforementioned rooms, families hardly ever use all the rooms. No matter how many rooms you have, people tend to gather either in the kitchen, or close to it. The kitchen is the warmest room in the house and people gravitate toward it.

Homes built before the housing boom after World War II held far fewer rooms than homes built now. Space was at a premium, not just inside but outside as well. Would you rather a neighborhood with large sprawling, character-less houses on large lots with no trees? Or a neighborhood with an intelligent integration of parks and greens, with houses full of character designed for everyday, practical needs?

We should become better observers in weighing the media room against leaving the world a better place for our children who grow up in these houses. This is a crucial time for the envionment and how humans are affecting it negatively. Every extra square foot that we think we need included in our house is that much more we have to heat, air-condition, etc. The most ethical and moral decision might be to do our small part in designing and wanting homes that are efficiently laid out and can be maintained in an effificent manner.

We might not be able to watch movies upstairs above the garage in theatre seats, but they make movie theatres for that experience.

In cities such as Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles suburban sprawl forces people to live further and further from the city center. This sprawl forces people to drive long distances to their jobs, increasing traffic and greenhouse gas pollution. It also does not help those people feel happy to be in their cars for so long each day.

Good urban planning, attractive architecture and traditional city design helps people feel more comfortable living in the city center. When people feel comfortable living in cities, they live in dense enough populations that environment-friendly institutions such as public transit can flourish. When people live near where they work, they don’t have to drive, or drive as far as they would if they lived in the suburbs.

Good urban planning can therefore help us help ourselves. Housing types such as wall-sharing townhouses conserve energy because houses lose less heat and cool through their walls into the outside spaces. When houses share walls they in effect share heating and cooling expenditures, they don’t lose heat into the outside air.

Traditional neighborhood development and urban design advocates mixed use development, which combines residential and retail space in close proximity. This proximity, like people living near where they work, also cuts down on fossil fuel use and greenhouse gases. When someone doesn’t have to drive to the store to pick up groceries, or shop for whatever they need, without driving, it cuts down on exhaust and fuel use.

Finally, good urban design makes people happier and more able to live long and healthy lives. Living in dense urban areas encourages walking, which has obvious health benefits, as well as mental benefits. When people are out walking on the streets, sitting on their porches or enjoying public parks, it encourages socialization, getting to know ones neighbors and keeps the streets safe for everyone.