Description
Above and Beyond takes an aerial view to conclusively demonstrate how suburban sprawl is forever changing the look of America—and how that can be avoided. Alex MacLean's photographs—many of them combined with computer simulations to illustrate how landscapes are transformed over time—show how traditional development patterns produce more compact cities and towns. In conjunction, the authors introduce communities that have successfully fought sprawl, invigorated their town areas, and overcome the car-culture mentality of sprawl development. The case they make, and the examples they offer, will inspire planners, officials, and concerned citizens everywhere.
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This book argues for a return to traditional development patterns that produce more compact cities and towns. Highlighting widespread trends in contemporary land development-from fragmentation (our tendency to spread out) to separation (our tendency to allocate separate areas of town for living, working, shopping and playing)-the authors offer case examples of communities that have succeeded in curbing those trends. They show how these communities have invigorated their town centers; lured home buyers back to town; integrated working, shopping and recreation areas; nurtured a sense of identity and community; rewritten land-use regulations to allow for more compact developing; and overcome the ""cars rule"" mentality of suburban development. "
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