Urban Development

By Sandra Olson and Perla A. Vargas

Urban development is a system of residential expansion that creates cities. Urban development occurs by expansion into unpopulated areas and/or the renovation of decaying regions. Well planned cities, towns, and neighborhoods requiere the collaboration of engineers, project managers, architects, environmental planners, and surveyors.

Urban development may happened by natural expansion or urban renovation. To accommodate population growth in major cities, urban developers seek out neighboring natural territories to build needed housing and recreational areas. This expansion entails the destruction of wilderness areas. To protect wildlife and plant life, urban planners must work closely with environmental protection agencies. Rather than well-planned urban development, often cities spread into areas adjoining the edge of a city in an unplanned, uncontrolled urban sprawl. This unplanned growth might create traffic problems and poor use of natural resources and services. An alternative, more environmentally friendly strategy of urban development, is urban renovation or renewal. By rehabilitating run down neighborhoods, obsolete industrial districts, and other unused spaces historical areas as well as wilderness can be preserved.

Pros

Cons

Land is less expensive in new areas therefore families can afford to have a bigger hous.

Suburbs usually have better school systems.
Suburbs tend to be more quiet and peaceful.
Suburbs tend to have less pollution (although may create more for the city).

Crime rates tend to be lower in the suburbs compared to urban areas.

The expansion of our society symbolizes a growing economy.

Sense of community. Won’t feel “lost in a crowd”.

Living outside the city requires a car because work, schools, and services are spread out. The increased need to commute increases pollution.

Construction of roads and buildings destroy farmland and wildlife habitat.

Populations disperses, government agencies disperse, regulations and taxes are higher.

More cars and longer conmutes increase risk of accidents

Urban/ suburban lifestyle associated with high stress, low physical activity and obesity.
Pollution, low physical activity, overweight, and stress have a negative impact on our health.

Sources:

Arizona. Wikipedia retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona

Urban Sprawl Blog, May 2010 retrieved from http://promote-smartgrowth.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

Urban Development

Pros

Cons

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