The Effects Of Urban Sprawl On American Culture

Is the process of urban sprawl more helpful or hurtful to America?(HELPFUL) Urban sprawl is the term used to describe the diffusion of urban land use into nonrural areas. In the 1950s, urban sprawl had its origin in the flight to the suburbs. Ever since, urban sprawl's effects on American culture have been a hotly debated topic. Urban sprawl, according to some, is advantageous because it promotes greater economic growth, better housing choices, and easier access to jobs and services. However, many argue that urban sprawl has a number of destructive effects, such as environmental damage and increased traffic congestion. People argue the idea of urban sprawl is too fast and rapid, to the point where it is negatively impacting society. Despite

New suburban towns have been created thanks to urban sprawl, where living costs are typically lower than in cities. Leapfrog development occurs when developers build new residences far from an urban area. Developers build on less costly land further away from an urban area compared to the more costly land upfront near a city(Holcombe,1). Families on the markets for housing that cannot afford homes in the city, due to expensive land costs, can rely on urban sprawl for cheap housing through the leapfrog development. Not only are the homes that families purchase cheaper, they also are larger than within the city area. Homes are more suited for single families, with large front and backyards and even a garage, which would not be located in city apartments. The low cost of housing due to urban sprawl also brings more healthful benefits to society. The NRDCs idea is that with less auto dependency and easier access to transportation and jobs, low income families can spend less on transportation and will be encouraged to walk, which can save energy, reduce obesity, and improve general health(Perice, 2). Not only does the idea of urban sprawl bring cheap housing and transportation, but also benefits society with their well-being. The increasing growth through urban sprawl promotes positive cost-effective