Urban SprawlHLTH 497

What is urban sprawl?The expansive and rapid spreading outwards of a metropolitan area (and its suburb) to outskirts and low-density rural lands.

Characterized by:

single-use zoning

reliance on automobiles

homogeneity in design

low-density land use

History of Urban SprawlLate 19th Century

Wealthiest class in Europe had access to transportation, and built grand estates outside of the city.

Development of infrastructure caused relatively wealthy people to move away from polluted city centers.

City centers become increasingly populated by lower-income individuals.

History of Urban Sprawl

1940s: Post War Boom

great economic prosperity led to development

need for housing to accommodate growing populations

Own-Your-Own-Home national campaigns in the USA

Facilitators of Urban Sprawl

Automobiles

Governmental single-use zoning laws

Accessible mortgages

Housing subsidies

Environmental Issues and Urban Sprawl

Climate changedependancy on motor vehicles cause increase emissions

Air pollution local and regional pollution causes adverse health effects

respiratory diseasecardiovascular disease, cancer and birth defects

Water Quality increase runoff due to paved areas

Health Issues and Urban Sprawl

Lack of Physical Activitycaused by heavy dependance on automobiles low walkability of suburban communities

land-use mixconnectivity aesthetics

less likely to walk or bike, even short distancesdiabetes, obesity and hypertension

Health Issues and Urban Sprawl

Mental Health Effects

at the current rate of development, the average commuter in the GTA can expect a 300% increase in delay by 2031

stress of commuting

mental effects of the loss of green space

Break Out Discussion GroupsWhat are the primary economic, political, environmental,

and social arguments against sprawl? How about for urban sprawl?Which parts of your metropolitan area provide examples of sprawl?

Why has sprawl occurred in these areas?What have been some of the impacts of sprawl in these areas?

What discussions, if any, have been held among citizens or politicians concerning how the effects of sprawl can be lessened and how sprawl can be curtailed in future development?What do you think should be done about the sprawl situation in this area? Is this really a big problem, or are things okay as they stand now?

The Great Urban Sprawl Debate

Pro-Sprawl Opening Address (5 minutes)

Anti-Sprawl Opening Address (5 minutes)

Pro- Sprawl Rebuttal (3 minutes)

Anti-Sprawl Rebuttal (3 minutes)

Final Statement from Pro-Sprawl (1 minute)

Final Statement from Anti-Sprawl (1 minute)

The Future of Urban Sprawl?

www.ted.com/talks/ellen_dunham_jones_retrofitting_suburbia.html

Sources and More Reading

Bruegmann, Robert. 2005. Sprawl: a Compact History. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

Hornstein, Jeffrey M. 2005. A Nation of Realtors®: A Cultural History of the Twentieth-Century American Middle Class. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

www.publichealthgrandrounds.unc.edu/urban/

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497432/pdf/12432132.pdf

www.8-80cities.org/Articles/Urban%20Sprawl-Jan-05.pdf