tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611639517962742486.post4112184615754046034..comments2024-03-25T15:31:12.151-07:00Comments on We Live In A Political World: #97 / DenseGary A. Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15049925834933920507noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611639517962742486.post-56479732533246145562014-04-06T11:12:34.368-07:002014-04-06T11:12:34.368-07:00I am cautious about extrapolating the results of t...I am cautious about extrapolating the results of this study (available at http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/measuring-sprawl-2014.pdf) as a predictor of the results of urban growth. (Notice that Santa Cruz is #6 out of 10 in "Most compact, connected metro areas, nationally.")<br /><br />The study compares growing dense urban centers with growing urban sprawl communities. It does not compare these communities with stable "non-sprawl," or "built-out" communities, where growth is less of a factor.<br /><br />Though I'm not aware of any such study (yet), I would doubt that the same results would be found comparing San Francisco with my home town of Chadron (population ~2,000) in western Nebraska. <br /><br />It is growth that causes the problems in urban environment, more than the physical arrangement of the people therein. One could equally argue that rather than sprawl or maximum density, optimum community size would be a determining factor in quality and length of life considerations for its occupants.<br /><br />After all, the study was for "Smart Growth America!"Michael A. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980105313542633114noreply@blogger.com