Social Sciences » Urban History
The New Urbanism and the Environment: Green Solutions to Urban Sprawl
The New Urbanism, an urban planning movement born in the 1980s, advocates the return
of streetcar suburbs that resemble the look and function of neighborhoods built before the
age of the automobile. New urbanists hope to reduce smog and other environmental
impacts of traffic. They advocate design innovations that promote walking and bicycle
riding. They call for narrow streets, shaded sidewalks, corner stores, porched housing,
small lawns, and service alleys. Do these design innovations translate into a greener and
cleaner Boise?
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by Christopher Blanchard
Note from the author: this paper was supported by a research grant from the Boise Cascade Corporation.