Metropolitan Development Patterns: What Difference Do They Make

摘要

This report summarizes findings from the Urban Institute's 1977 study on urban development patterns. The study sought to compare the potential results of a development - guidance or land - use strategy with other ways of achieving the same policy goal. The research's dominant, but not exclusive, interest was in the effects of overall metropolitan development patterns (e.g., compact versus dispersed or strong central core versus dispersed business activity) rather than the design of individual projects or neighborhoods. Emphasis was placed on four effects: travel behavior, energy consumption, air quality, and economic and fiscal costs. Secondary attention was given to water quality, solid waste disposal, water supply, and farmland conversion. The study confirmed that as neighborhood density and diversity increase, fewer automobile trips are taken by each household, largely because more trips are made on foot or by public transportation. Results indicate that the most energy - efficient urban neighborhood comprises small - to - moderate - sized multifamily structures intermixed with shopping and other nonresidential facilities. Densities of at least 10,000 people per square mile also make possible the provision of convenient mass transit service, thereby reducing gasoline consumption. However, better urban air quality is achieved through dispersed, low - density residential patterns and by separation of dwelling units from major sources of air pollution (although 'smog' would be an exception). Economic costs, including real estate prices, overall cost of living, and private - sector wages, all tend to rise as the density of the area and the size of the population increase. In the short term, direct regulation and pricing policies are much more effective than land - use policy in conserving energy and cleaning the air. Tables, figures, and footnotes are provided. (Author abstract modified).