Hi class,
I've seen your comments from the first post. Good job thus far! Here's your second article. So, what do you think?
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/can-we-uninvent-suburbia/?scp=2&sq=urban%20sprawl&st=cse
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39 comments:
Urban sprawl is something that is affecting every area of the United States. It is tearing into rural areas and interrupting nature. It is something that we should try harder to stop. In the United States, it seems as if everything has to be bigger and better than whatever came before it. Because of this, we build new neighborhoods and shopping centers instead of revitalizing the ones that already exist. In my hometown, the entire downtown area sits empty while new businesses encroach on what used to be uninhabited land. Not only does this take up land, but it also causes people to drive further and further in order to reach the new places. Natural resources are depleted in many ways by doing this. First, the land must be cleared. New building materials must also be used. Gasoline consumption increases due to the increased driving. The cycle never seems to end.
How can we stop this? Instead of building so many new things, we should renovate the ones we have. Downtown areas in small towns across the USA are perfect examples of this. Many perfectly good buildings sit empty. These should be renovated for new businesses. This would save land and building materials. Also, we could save fuel because most downtowns are more suitable for walking than driving. When new areas must be built, they should be better planned. In Fayetteville, it seems as if businesses and roads spring up everywhere, with no logic to their locations. If these business were built in a more efficient pattern within walking distance of each other, many resources could be saved.
Urban sprawl is destroying our natural landscape and depleting our natural resources. We must take action in order to stop this from happening.
It is obvious that something has to be done to stop the end of suburbia. Suburbia are right now places where we can almost enjoy natural life, It is probably for many people the closest way to get away from noise lights and everything that you find in a big urban place.If people do not realize that this could cause a lot of damage probably not to us but to the kids or our kids this coul even mean the end of a natural world.
To solve this problem is not going to be in the shoulders of just some people but in the effort of everybody in the world. We should stop building huge buildings and try to give more room for natural areas as well as trying to live as we used to a couple of years ago. Because if we do not do this it could cause a lot of damage to the all world and we unfortunally we just have one.
Jorge Villanueva
Urban sprawl is continually increasing, subsequently affecting our country as a whole. Our animal and plant life is in grave danger, along with our farmland. With the constant deforestation occurring, not only are we polluting our environment, but we are also reducing our ability to produce food and timber. Upon destruction of this land, malls and shopping centers are being built, with increasing distances from residential areas. This causes more dependence on the use of automobiles which in turn causes more gas and clogged roads. Also, residential areas are increasing development. This brings about high enrollment rates in schools, causing a bigger gap in teacher to student ratios, which brings a negative impact on our public education systems.
Though urban sprawl seems hard to fix due to our continual increase in population, it can still be done. Population size is not the factor we need to control; it is the amount of land we use and how we use it. The single, easiest way, would be to increase the use of buses and subways, decreasing our reliability on automobiles. Another way would be to have more compact residential and commercial development, which could also cut down the amount of gas used on a daily basis. Urban sprawl can also be decreased if we start to develop buildings including apartments, shopping and offices all in one building. This option would allow people to complete their daily lives, without the use of cars. Some of these ideas may seem absurd, but that’s primarily because society has become so attached to resources such as gasoline. It’s not necessarily a resource that is needed, but just like urban sprawl, our country has become so dependent on it, that they are starting to lose vision that there actually are ways around it.
Erin Moskos
I am saddened from urban sprawl. I have hated seeing the rectangle boxes of homogenized corporate retail stores as long as I can remember. I must say that it excites me to see what people are doing to renovate these abandoned shopping malls. I wish we did not need to do it though -or- I at least wish we were doing it for other reasons.
It would be much nicer if we had abandoned shopping malls because we citizens were winding down this crazy “retail therapy” consumer driven economy we run and learning to live simply again. Instead we are building new centers because the old ones were inferior in some way? No. They were not. If we really don’t want urban sprawl the quickest solution is not to support it. The money is what speaks louder that anything, so don’t go to the new stores out on the edge of town. Don’t go there for any reason. See how small of an area you can purchase all the NECESSARY goods you need. Let the new stores wither and die. We are on the verge of a big change in our society and you can feel it. When you get fed up with all this marketed crap around you, take that feeling and run with it. Spend a day with out exchanging currency for one single thing.
If people did not stop purchasing gas guzzling SUV’s they would still be churning them out. We stopped buying them - they reduced production.
MONEY TALKS.
Robby Rose
Usually there is a line drawn between the rich and the poor, but when dealing with something as vast as "urban sprawl', there is no cut off as to who it affects. Gasoline prices, new subdivisions, and high-end shopping centers are just a few of the examples competing for the American peoples' dollar and the American soil. However, as the competition thrives, the natural resouces die. The land is constantly used for new subdivisions, where the homes aren't even sold. The air is constantly being comtaminated by the fumes emmitted by cars coming from miles around to shop at high-end retail shops. The old builings seem to become invisible leaving materials and land to go to waste while new buildings take up more land and use more materials. The process is a debacle!
We like to sit around and watch professionals in the area fix the problem, but there are many ways in which we, as a united people, could help stop urban sprawl. Carpooling, which decreases the use of natural resources; walking, which exhibits physical health; and restoration of the old, which preserves nature are all ways of preventing the destruction of our beautiful country. The quicker we realize that it is bigger than us, the quicker the problem will be nipped.
J. Ryan Duncan
Urban sprawl is something that is growing everyday. It it harming the natural enviorment around us and something must be done in order to maintain it. Not only is is tearing up what little we have left but harming animals already in danger as well.
How sad would it be to never see a natural area of land where there arne't any huge buildings or city lights? How do we stop this? We need to start perserving these areas and make more of a conscience effort to maintain what little we have left. Natural areas like in the mountains pepople often visit to relax and get away from the big city life but if something doesn't change to stop the urban sprawl, relaxing places like that wil no longer exist.
Amanda Rosen
Urban sprawl is something that is more than likely unavoidable. It is something that no matter how hard people try, someone else will go ahead and do it. We may be able to slow down urban sprawl, but people are always going to want everything money can buy. I agree that having a 5 bedroom house for two people is ridiculous. Unfortunately today living in a nice suburban home is a sign of status in today’s time. Even if we could convince everyone in the United States right now to stop expanding and take advantage of what is already existing, when our children grow up they will pick up where we left off. It’s an unavoidable and unfortunate reality.
There is such a debate on whether global warming is real, and what is causing it. Today most average American’s believe that it is happening, but aren’t completely sure what is causing it. There is a good chance that our excess use of energy and our high dependence on cars is a large factor in global warming. There are some skeptics out there. Some scientist and other educated people say that it is a natural cycle that the world goes through. Some say that it is happening, but that humans are not factor that is causing it. Without everyone believing that humans are causing global warming there is no way to stop urban sprawl. Those of us who do believe it, and believe that we can help stop urban sprawl, can help as much as we can and hope to at least slow it down.
Brooke South
I believe that urban sprawl will only continue to get worse with time in order to fill the need for an increasing population, unless we take action. I was watching the Fayetteville channel on cable television the other day and they were talking about the plan for future growth. They call it city plan 2025. Some of the goals are to discourage suburban sprawl, make traditional town form the standard, assemble an enduring green network, and create attainable housing. The city wants to build compact and connected neighborhoods. They also mentioned “green building” and transit-oriented development. However, they stressed the quick and convenient access to the interstate. To be honest I’m not sure if this plan is going to help the problem of urban sprawl or not. Sometime I think that it is unavoidable but this is a step in the right direction. It might increase urban sprawl now, but in the long run I think it will help.
By building cities based on plans we would be able to create mass railway systems, in turn decreasing the dependency for automobiles. I think that solar energy should also become one of our main sources of energy. There are so many other solutions to protecting the environment we just have to start using them. I also think that we should start building with material’s that are environmentally safe. After all isn’t the main concern of urban sprawl the environment? We all need to start making changes for the better not only to protect the environment that we have now, but also the future generations that will have to live in the world that we create. We have to start small, but if everyone does their small part eventually it will add up into something big.
Ann White
I do agree that something needs to be done in order to save what natural resources our planet has left. They are depleting at an insanely high rate and it seems that in no time they will be gone. This is a problem and concern that needs to be addressed by all people, but I think it's turning more into a fad instead of a world wide need. Everyone seems to be jumping on the "save the world" bandwagon, talking about how something needs to be done, but still aren't doing anything. It's easy to sit here on our home computers and talk about how awful global warming and overconsumption of energy is, but it's another to actually get up and do something about it. I shouldn't throw stones in my glass house though, I'm sitting in my room with all of the lights on, with the lights on in the living room, the bathroom, and the one in the kitchen would be on too if it worked. I can't sit here and say how sad it is our environment is constantly changing due to overconsumption when I'm doing just that. I bet most of the students who respond to this blog are in the same boat as well.
It's unrealistic to ask everyone to live in a house that is solar powered, drive the smallest smart car, and read by candlelight, but we can turn the living room light off when we aren't in there. I think this small step needs to accomplished before we ask everyone to move into a carless neighborhood. I'm going to try myself to turn the lights off more often, if not to save the world to save some money on the electric bill every month. I won't be giving up my car anytime soon though.
Ashley Hicks
In America, we concentrate a vast amount of our lives on gaining wealth. We want the gas-guzzling Hummers, the 1 million dollar mansions, and anything else that screams "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!." Unfortunately, we do not realize the impact that our selfish needs are having on our planet. The world is made up of non-renewable resources that will eventually run out. As a society, we need to make a collaborative effort to stop using up Earth's resources.
The urban sprawl has led this country into a housing crisis. We are building more and more homes, and none of them are even being filled! We are destroying land for no reason. We are tearing down trees, and leaving animals homeless. We are polluting the environment by using these enormous machines. And, I must emphasize again, we are doing this for NO reason!!!
There are simple steps that everyone can take to do their part. Paper or plastic? Neither! Try bringing a reusable bag with you when you do your shopping. Try carpooling to work, or walking if it is possible. I will commend the world on it's recent "Lights Out" campaign held in March. Let's stay on this track! :)
Kelley Frost
The days of "Leave It To Beaver" are over, or so we think. Sometimes, I sit and wonder how our society has reached this point. Our financial markets are in serious trouble. People are losing their jobs and homes. The news reports depressing doom each and every day. Fear of tomorrow is on everyone's mind. What would really happen if our economy crashed tomorrow? I can tell you, the days of "Leave It To Beaver" would return. People would wash clothes by hand, hang them to dry, and grow their own food. There wouldn't be anymore "I want to buy this today", it would become a "need" verses a "want."
If our economy crashed, many things would happen. For instance, higher crime, unemployment, education issues, and much more would trouble our nation. One important issue is how much of an impact it would have on our environment. For example, people would stop living beyond their means and tighten spending. As this trickles down to the common household, it would bring more awareness to our environment. It would mean less pollution, conservation of fuel and energy, cleaner air, and the list could go on and on. In some ways, the economy and its vulnerability has awakened our senses to the reality in which we live. We must make changes to save our envirnoment today. Why should we wait for the bad to happen before we react...
Brittney Richardson
It is clear that urban sprawl is detrimental to the overall quality of our environment, economy, and character of place. Yet the spread of unplanned urban development remains woefully high. Do we feel threatened by the standards of new urbanism? Maybe we feel that our comfortable and familiar lifestyles are at stake when we restrict where and how development can occur.
However, a new approach to city planning does not have to affect our lives negatively. I think it’s more about a change in organization rather than lifestyle; which is much more feasible.
Build up rather than out. Encourage live/work communities. Provide relief from the hustle and bustle of large cities with large public greenspaces. Provide alternative forms of public transportation and recreation with bike trails. If we allow ourselves to sacrifice little, the benefits will override what we’ve lost. Give up your 5 acre backyard for 50 acres of public greenspace. Give up your 2,400 square foot home for an eighth acre lot and a five minute walk to work.
Another approach is to retrofit huge corporations as environmental amenities rather than constraints. Did you know that Wal-mart is responsible for HALF of the electricity used in our country? It takes a lot of stores to require that much energy. What if each one of those stores was built in such a way that they were improving the environmental conditions pre-existing to their construction? It can be done. It just takes knowledge and planning.
There are a lot of ways that we can improve the quality of our cities without becoming total hippies. It takes time and enough people to care that we do it right. Let’s take value in what we build and instill these values onto our children for the sake of our future cities.
Urban Sprawl is a growing issue. It is continuing to be harmful to the natural environment as well as the human and animal population. Although I want to believe that if we all worked together we could put an end to this problem, I fear that it is only going to become worse. The use of automobiles is destroying our air and the ozone. New residential and commercial areas are developing taking away land and the natural resources that the land provides.
I think that we all need to be more conservative as a whole. Individuals who travel long distances to work should take advantage of carpooling. Instead of creating new malls and buildings, remodeling the old ones would save land space. If we do not all make more of an effort to preserve our world, urban sprawl is here to stay.
Urban Sprawl is a growing issue. It is continuing to be harmful to the natural environment as well as the human and animal population. Although I want to believe that if we all worked together we could put an end to this problem, I fear that it is only going to become worse. The use of automobiles is destroying our air and the ozone. New residential and commercial areas are developing taking away land and the natural resources that the land provides.
I think that we all need to be more conservative as a whole. Individuals who travel long distances to work should take advantage of carpooling. Instead of creating new malls and buildings, remodeling the old ones would save land space. If we do not all make more of an effort to preserve our world, urban sprawl is here to stay.
Jill Feimster
I know urban sprawl sucks but to an extent it has to occur. Of course everyone loves that small town they grew up in and hate the fact that some huge highway got put in because that is how I was about my town. But with the population ever increasing how else would you deal with it? For example, my town has changed so much in just a few short years I've been at college because of its growth. Things have to change or it's not going to be successful. Things that sadden me are when people are basically forced out of their homes for a big highway.
Basically I am double-sided on this topic. I think urban sprawl is something that you can't stop from occuring but I think you can slow the process down. And yes of course there are natural resources to think about and such but then be better about what you do everyday. Don't turn on the light unless you have to, open your window instead of the air conditioner, there are so many little things other than stopping urban sprawl that will help with those types of things.
All in all, I don't think urban sprawl is a terrible thing, I think it is needed and now I don't want the entire U.S. to be a huge city, places can still retain their surburbia at the same time as accomidating to the people of the surburb.
Lindsay Scanlan
Urban sprawl is one of the reasons why the economy in the state of crises it is in now. I believe that expansion is good, but we can not leave our inner cities falling apart. By restoring our downtowns we will open up more homes. By renovating,we could prevent over population of some areas and could save us from a world of "wall-e" in the future.
I believe,that in order to set the US apart from other countries we must keep our economy stable. In order to keep our economy stable we must take care of our weakest links. We have fix our problems before we can progress.
There is almost a general consensus amongst Americans that humans do have a negative impact on the environment. ("How negative the impact?" seems to be the real debate.) Urban sprawl is no doubt contributing to humanity's negative "footprint" on mother nature, and these are concentrated in developed countries and increasingly in the emerging economies. And while it's great to see more authority figures like Al Gore be so adamant and visible in advocating such a noble cause as environmental stewardship, we have to determine what kind of priority to place on the problem of environmental neglect in the face of so many other global issues. While environmental deterioration is a problem, should it be addressed to the exclusion of so many other problems?
Many say that we have a moral objection to react to the plight of the environment immediately and with all available resources and manpower. I disagree with this majority. Preventable diseases like malaria, HIV, and diarrhea are responsible for the deaths of 15,000,000 people each year. Half the world's population is classified as malnourished. 1 Billion people don't have clean drinking water.
"Reinventing suburbia" would consume an enormous amount of resources, manpower, and time that is currently being funneled into solving the more immediate and life-threatening problems of the billions that are suffering the world over. These individuals literally can't live to see the debate over urban sprawl continue for much longer. Let's make the urban sprawl debate and the environmental debate a non-issue until we at least provide the relief that we have promised to the world's most unfortunate.
I think urban sprawl has its pros and cons. I am from a suburb of a medium-sized city. I enjoy living apart from the shopping centers, movie theaters and big grocery stores. However, they are still close enough to be convenient for me. I think urban sprawl is good when it provides new jobs and opportunity for better quality goods and products. I think it is bad when it encroaches on that which has ALWAYS been...rural.
I experienced my hate for urban sprawl this past summer when a forest was cut down near my house so a new Wal-Mart supercenter could be built. Granted, they did build it so it would "blend in" with its surroundings. I was not happy with this "growth" near my home because I had lived my life driving by what USED to be there...before Wal-Mart. Yet, I broke down and started shopping there just for the convenience. I save gas and time by shopping at this Wal-Mart even though I always remind myslef of how it SHOULD NOT be there!
I guess it all comes down to whether you like the economic growth that results in this urban expansion or if you'd rather just enjoy the aesthetic pleasures you are accustomed to.
And one more thing, I hate what urban sprawl is doing to the "downtown" areas across the country. They are nothing but boarded-up spaces for rent. The sad thing is...they will never be leased.
LAUREN WILLIAMS
Urban sprawl is a matter that needs to be taken care of. If we do not watch out we will soon find ourselves between a rock and a hard spot with the depletion of resources.
The main problem I have with urban sprawl is stores moving to the out skirts of town when there are buildings downtown that just need a little renovation. I'm from Conway, AR and just a few years ago the downtown was pretty much dead. They started a city project and have renovated downtown and now it's a thriving area again. It's really something amazing to see. As far as building subdivisions on the edge of town, I don't think that's as bad. I personally don't want to be living 2 inches from my neighbor, and when a city is growing and new people move to town, what else are you suppose to do?
This is a situation that needs to be monitored. Cities and towns should mandate that stores first try to find an empty building not in use before they go and build. They should also set aside so much land to be preserved for natural park use, etc. It is a give and take system. If we make adjustments in some areas then we can allow ourselves the pleasure of not living so close together.
Urban sprawling is affecting the world, even more our country. I feel that there is no way that this spreading will slow down especially in the south. In the south for some reason living in the suburb is where to live. Cities of 50,000 even have there own suburbs. I do not understand it.
I believe the reason people live in these areas is not just because its a status symbol. I think there is more involved. Sometimes living in the suburb is cheaper than living in the city. Even if the prices were equal, living in a suburb offers more space for the same price. Then why do we blame people for wanting to move to the suburbs. Also the crime rates are much lower in these areas so it would be a better place to raise a family. When people just say its just a status symbol they are wrong.
Bhavin Patel
Have you ever been driving around a place that is familiar to you and say "Wow, when did that building pop up?" It seems like this has been happening to me a lot lately. Driving to the Rogers and Bentonville area is a new experience every time!
Urban sprawl has started slowly creeping into Northwest Arkansas. I used to think that it was just in the big cities like New York City and Chicago. It makes me wonder how different the NWA area will be in 10 or even 20 years. The question of stopping this phenomenon is often debated, but yet answers are hard to come by. The small-town areas are being increasingly infiltrated. I honestly do not believe that this will stop anytime soon. With a growing population and a lacking economy, people are moving to small town America in hopes of change. With this incoming forces smaller communities to grow and build, resulting in a never ending cycle.
-Courtney Bowman
Urban sprawl allows for living the “American Dream.” Who doesn’t want a beautiful home with a garden, far away from that loud and noisy city? As appealing as it sounds, the pretty picture that suburbia paints in Americans’ eyes won’t always be beautiful. Urban sprawl negatively affects the environment, the land and natural habitat, and further increases our dependence on foreign oil. Americans continue to expand their horizons, and at the cost of our planet.
Humans continuously evolve, and for us to be truly sustainable on earth we must turn to a new form of energy that can support our “expanding” lifestyles. Our society will not sacrifice the luxuries that suburbia provides us, but a compromise must be made.
Is urbanization really that bad? I mean, ya its grown alot from where America started but is there really anything we can do about it? With industrialization and technology we have to expect change. With change comes growth and we should be proud of that growth. Alot of what people harp on (the shopping buildings, business buildings and homes) are what we and our economy thrives on.
Now to say that every city should be like New York..thats another statement. Should we let the urban sprawl take over America? I think not. We also need to be proud of our natural enviornment as well. We have beautiful scenery all across America an theres no price to be put on that by any national cooporation. But to say that we need to stop the urban sprawl is too far for my taste. Its a part of living and moving toward the future and something we should just come to embrace.
H. Royal
Urban sprawl is a sad thing that is happening over the U.S. More and more are families trying to escape the big city noise and lights and this is causing numerous acres of land to be fixed for housing. With the populations increasing every year, it is probable that more land will be torn up to accomidate these people. It is very unrealistic that this will ever stop, simply for the fact that families want to get away from big cities and to make a new home outside of any metroplex.
I do live near Dallas, but I live in a suburb close to it and when the construction of the city started a long time ago, there was land, plants and trees as far as the eye could see. Now there are still trees, but all of the land now has buidings and homes on it and there is not an acre of just land. It is not all bad, but I would like to be able someday to not have my neighbors house sitting 10 feet from my own. I would want there to be some distance in between me and my neighbors simply for the fact that everyone now a days is too huddled together. The urban sprawl is not all a bad thing, but this concept does have more of a negative tone towards it.
Lauren Fielding
Urban sprawl is something that will only be slowed if we have a decrease in demand for this type of living. It is like Robbie said "money talks", people will supply anything as long as others demand it. That being said, Bhavin gives several good examples of why people would want to continue living this way. I see no immediate changes coming.
Several people have suggested ways to make better use of what we already have, for example renovating old shopping centers. This seems like a very good start.
I know that as America grows, urban sprawl will grow with it. It is somewhat sad to see new buildings being built everywhere when I go back home, land that used to be countryside and covered with animals now are covered with new homes and businesses. I really hate to see it, but it will take more than a few concerned citizens to stop the problem.
Somewhere along the line Americans got this grand idea that bigger is always better. Everywhere you go, bigger houses and bigger cars get all the attention, but those also use up the most resources, whether it is steel, lumber, or gas. It is pretty sad to see the old countryside become modernized, I mean damn I'm only 21 and the area around my hometown already has taken on a new facelift. And that is a town of 2,400 people. I can only imagine what it will be like in 10, 20, or 30 years down the road.
Jonathan Armour
Hmmmm Blane messed up the placement of my signature.
Even though urban sprawl is affecting our nation, nobody knows about it except those more educated science folks. The average American doesn’t know about it or if they do, they don’t know enough about it. I’m sure the average American doesn’t blog about it either. Their life is too BUSY. I do believe that urban sprawl is definitely unavoidable. It’s going to happen no matter what but we can slow it down by letting the average American recognize it. I went to endofsurburbia.com and they wanted me to pay to get a copy of the documentary! I mean, if people are like me, they wouldn’t pay for it. Why not have a documentary like that freely available and advertised to the public so that way they actually know what is going on instead of keeping it only to those who pay for it. I believe if Americans see it, there will be change. If not big, maybe a little but it’s still a step forward. And it’s not that people haven’t recognized the environmental costs of suburban areas, many have and are trying to do slow the process down but most importantly you have to educate the average American about it.
I do have something to say about Erin’s idea of “developing buildings including apartments, shopping, and offices all in one building”. This option will allow people to complete their daily lives without the use of cars but then again I think if this becomes common enough, people are going to become sooo lazy that they will become overly obese that they won’t even be able to do anything for themselves…..you know like in the movie WALL-E……people sit, eat, watch T.V. around the space craft with those flying chair. You get too comfortable in one spot and then the next thing you know, you can’t walk because you’ve spent all those years sitting.
It is hard to watch all this urban sprawl. Just in the last 5 years or so it has changed drastically. Everytime I drive down the street I feel like I see another cookie cutter house that pops up. How can they actually have enough people to fill up these houses? What I do not understand is why would you want to live in a house that looks the exact same as everyone of your neighboors? What happened to buying a house with personality? More and more people are forgettiing the beauty of arcitecture and just buying what is cheap.
The costs are cheap because they are made cheap. I personlay know people who have bought one of those suburbia home and with in 3 yeard the walls have cracked and the foundation started to colapse. Where as homes built in the 1930's are still standing strong. Builder do not care about the construction and beauty of homes anymore. They want to make a quick buck and be gone, not having to deal with any of their cheap mistakes.
I have had the privilege to grow up Fayetteville, AR for 22 years, and until college, I lived in the same house my whole life. I have watched urban sprawl completely transform Northwest Arkansas over the years. I often find myself driving in areas I’ve been millions of times before and notice a new subdivision or shopping outlet that is being developed. I don’t think this is such a bad thing as long as there is a need and demand for it. I’ve observed that many of these new structures are being built but they’re not being put to use. For example, if you drive towards Farmington, there are couple of small shopping malls that have been built and sitting there vacant for at least a year or two. Who is it that made the decision that it was necessary for shopping in that specific area? Obviously there isn’t a need because the ‘For Lease’ signs still remain. There is an obvious lack of planning or research in the design.
Urban sprawl is unfortunate in that it takes away from the natural beauty that this area offers. We need to slow down the construction and attempt to preserve some of the naturalness that still remains. With the new bike and walking trails that Fayetteville has been developing, it seems we are moving in the right direction. Hopefully this pattern will continue, after all this is “the natural state”.
Urban sprawl should be halted because it has negative consequences on the natural environment. As people spread out, they destroy natural habitats and reduce natural resources. Is a building or a home really worth hundreds or thousands of trees? No, not even logically. People should look for smaller, old house rather than gigantic, new houses. Just because one has the freedom to do what he wants, doesn't mean that its right.
We as citizens have to say no to this kind of wasteful and harmful development. Our voices will be heard only if we speak against it. Only then will the land developers change their plans.
Kenneth Tran
For some reason most Americans have it set in their minds that everything is in the way it looks. They keep their homes and gardens looking nice as well as maintaining their own individual looks. Why is it that we judge so much on the way things look.
Take for instance the job interviews that are coming up soon in class. We are now being offered extra credit for dressing nice. Maybe the person that comes in looking the worst will give the best interview we ever heard, but because they look so bad we will determine them as being less worthy of praise than another.
Travis Woosley
Many people are disgusted about the rapid growing of malls, stores, and housig areas. This is something that we can't stop and we shouldn't try to stop. Not only do many stores help the well being of citizens but they are vital to our country's economy. If we put regulations on where stores can build, it will only criple our economy. If we put regulations on where people can live , build, or what they drive it will only criple what our country was built on, INDEPENDENCE. So are you willing to sacerfice Your independence and be constantly regulated. Stand up for what your really think.
For everone in this class that is aginst building houses, malls, driving gas guzzling cars let me ask you a question, are you practicing what you preach? Do you drive a hybrid? Do you live on Campus? Have you ever gone to the new mall in Rogers? This is a reacurring theme that people don't think we should be doing this to the environment and contsantly blmae builders, oil companies, and everyone but themselves. So if your in class and you belive that we shouldn't be building, driving, etc., I ask you to practice what you are preaching. Don't be a leer-jet liberal like a Kennedy or an Gore.
Will Osborne
Urban sprawl does affect almost everyone and everything it encounters. Taking over the beauty of nature does no good, only harm. Yes, the population keeps rising abundantly and it is hard to stop, because with more people to take care of, we need more necessities.
Like z shearer said, we need to fix the older, abandoned buildings before cutting down trees and other natural wonders to create something new.
Although this may seem a huge problem, I am taking a Global Travel and Tourism class and we have recently been talking about destinations. This may seem irrelevant, but one of the main reasons people travel is to see the natural wonders of different places. For example, Central Park in NYC is one of the main attractions, and still incorporates nature.
Although it may seem like urban sprawl is taking over, we can still put it to a halt if we try our hardest.
I can understand both sides of this issue. For the greener folk, we don't want to drive further and develop new land. For the traditionalists, America has been founded on growth and development. How do you live the American dream in a small house in a tiny town? I don't necessarily find urban sprawl to be a negative. Newer businesses create new jobs and in a depleting economy, new revenue and businesses are a good thing.
America is going to grow, that's fact. You cannot have a city like Boulder, who lives in a bubble or a city like New York who doesn't have anywhere to go but up. People won't live on top of each other, they won't stop continuing to look for the next best thing - there isn't a reversal to this growth. I do however, think that there is a comprimisable option. Make what we do have greener, and continue technology towards an even more energy efficient world.
Urban sprawl is starting to become a big problem today. if nothing is done about this serious issue going on in the U.S. are animal and plant life will be in danger. Are rural areas and farmland will also suffer.
I think that we should put more planning into where we really need to put up huge buildings at and how it will affect that city now and later on down the line. Downtown areas in smaller towns should be renovated instead of starting on the building on other parts of the city in the rural areas.
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