While a wide range of tools exist to help create walkable, mixed use places, fewer tools and resources exist specifically for transforming suburban landscapes. The problems and opportunities are enormous. The US will add 100 million residents in the next 50 years, far more than can fit in core cities of major metro areas. Included in this section are tools and resources that can help and inspire all stakeholders to imagine, plan, design, and create new and reinvented suburban neighborhoods.
Many suburbs would like to revitalize infrastructure and assets, but they don’t know what problems to tackle first.
Affordable housing in the suburbs too often forces low-income and working-class residents to spend too much on transportation.
Building a Better Burb can sometimes fall victim to raw politics unless public officials see grassroots support.
Suburban areas in need of transformation often lack an oversight organization to join, providing a network of support.
Bringing in community stakeholder voices can allow for a smarter suburban design product.
The timing and planning of infrastructure investments are key to ensuring smart suburban growth.
Properly articulating the benefits of smart urban design to local stakeholders can help raise awareness about the planning issues and potential solutions in their own communities.
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