Suburbs and Sprawl No Longer All The Rage

In this month's edition of Multi-Housing News, author R. Scott Ziegler of Ziegler Cooper Architects in Houston examines what is happening in American cities today with regard to sprawl.

What's interesting about this article is that it highlights the costs of suburban sprawl on the environment, as well as the respective tax values.












It's clear from the chart above that irrigation, electricity and sometimes farm acreage are utilized in far greater amounts in suburbs as opposed to apartment buildings.  Ziegler argues that higher density development, close to conveniences and entertainment, will be in high demand in the future.  He also cites a study by the Brookings Institute that the U.S. population is expected to increase 33 percent -- to more than 376 million -- by 2030 -- 94 million people more than in the year 2000. 

Read more.