America’s Changing Neighborhoods:A Brief History of Urban Planning

HUMA 101: Introduction to HumanitiesHeartland Community College

Instructor: Sharon Migotsky

1940s:End of WWII and baby boom lead to development of Levittown (named for the architecture firm,Levitt & Sons)

First pre-planned, mass-produced housing complexContained thousands of low-cost homes

First Levittown developed on Long Island; second built in Bucks County, Penn.The term “Levittown” has come to mean “any generic, monotonous middle-class suburb”

1950s:Development of the interstate highway system launches suburban boom

Infrastructure of connected roads makes it possible to live and work in different areasPopulation density shifts away from traditional pattern of urban centers and rural areas

For the first time, smaller towns on the highway system can attract prospective homeowners, even if local job opportunities are sparseThese smaller communities eventually develop into bedroom communities

Bedroom communities are towns with little industry, retail, and other employment optionsOpportunities for entertainment are also limited

Hence, the term “bedroom communities”—as the majority of work, school, and shopping activities take place somewhere else, the town becomes only a place to sleep

Bedroom communities are popular, howeverHousing is more affordable

Traffic, crime, and other drawbacks of urban living are generally lower in bedroom communities

1960s:Change in demographics means that population is growing rapidlyDesire for privacy and reduced traffic inspirescul-de-sacs

Housing lots become smaller, closer togetherBaby boom means that there are more children, but smaller yards to play incul-de-sacs become desirable , as they reduce traffic

Increases privacy Increases safety

Cul-de-sacs also have drawbacks, howeverHaving only one point of entry (with no cross-streets) can cause traffic jamsMay be difficult for emergency vehicles to reach houses in time, as only one route is availableDifficult for large emergency vehicles, such as fire engines, to maneuver in cul-de-sacsMuch more expensive and time-consuming for city to snow-plow and maintain

Many municipalities are now restricting or banning the development of any new cul-de-sacs

1970s:Bedroom communities give way to edge cities

Edge cities are suburban areas that provide more opportunities and services than bedroom communities

Citizens become tired of commuting to the city for work, school, shopping

Greater number of two-career families means that jobs near home are in demandCheap land and consumer demand lure industry and retail away from urban areas and into edge cities

1980s:Environmental awareness leads to development of curbside recycling in many areasSecurity concerns prompt development ofgated communities

A gated community restricts access Ironically, however, gated communities do not reduce rates of crime

In a repeat of the cul-de-sac era, many municipalities eventually move to ban gated communities

Gated communities increase racial and social-class tension in cities already struggling with these issues

One gated community in Dallas even has exclusive access to a private highway, frustrating other motorists caught in daily traffic jams

Restricted access also means longer response time for emergency vehicles and costly delays for city maintenance crews

1990s:Perceived need for legislative clout motivates subdivisions to form political action committees (PACs)PACs lobby state and local officials for desired zoning laws, tax credits, updated utilities, etc.

2000s:Growth of internet and desire for increased communication leads to development of community association web sites

PACs now “meet” online to plan strategy“Named” subdivisions attempt to build sense of identity and exclusiveness through web sites

In one notorious case, a homeowner’s association uses its website to publish grievances over neighborhood spats over messy yards, noisy pets, etc.A lengthy lawsuit ensues, pitting neighbor against neighbor

The End