The notion of the suburbs is nestled deeply in the collective imagination in America, but as we wrote recently, “the suburbs of today aren’t necessarily the suburbs of yesteryear.” In a future that is increasingly urban, where suburbs are rapidly changing, what changes should they consider to stay prosperous and resilient?
The corner of Buford Highway and Highway 120 in downtown Duluth, GA in 2016 and 2018. Imagery from Google Maps.
Suburban leaders need to better understand what the potential costs are, and where the greatest values lie with their long-term development decisions. Through fiscal modeling, Smart Growth America has been helping towns and cities of all sizes see that making incremental increases in density or steering new development into existing areas isn’t just a way to save money but can actually bring huge dividends to municipal budgets, when compared to the old model of developing new land in a low-density way.
For today’s changing suburbs—like Duluth, GA featured in the Curbed piece—to evolve, they’ll have to leave behind the unsustainable blueprint that helped create them. The recipe for future prosperity will not be found in doing what got them here. But there’s a better, smarter way to grow, and the suburbs that can turn the page and change their approach to zoning, reconsider speed as the highest transportation priority, and encourage more density will be far better positioned to succeed tomorrow.