Smart Growth: A Catalyst for Public-Interest Investment

Written by a former mayor of Seattle, this Article describes the “smart growth” movement as a way to sustain the livability of large urban centers in the twenty-first strategy. It describes some of the problems facing urban areas experiencing population growth, namely traffic, rising housing prices and a scarcity of open space. The ”smart growth” movement seeks to address these problems in a cost efficient and environmentally friendly manner. Specifically, it seeks to do so through increased citizen participation in development decisions an constructive dialogue regarding development on individual neighborhoods. Ultimately, the goal of the movement is to make urban areas more attractive to live and work in, creating both investment and jobs. The Article also describes some of the community sacrifices required by the movement, including lowdensity residential neighborhoods, dependence on the automobile, and the separation of the middle and upper income households from the urban poor.