Learn about the fear that spawned the suburbs
"The Reduction of Urban Vulnerability: Revisiting 1950s American Suburbanization as Civil Defence" by Kathleen A Tobin, Purdue University, Cold War History, Vol.2, No.2, January, 2002.
This also made many land speculators wealthy. Because building is not a primary industry, it would be 10% or less of a normal economy. A suburban jurisdiction booming on housing will bust and the only tax base to pay for all the promises inherent is the subdivision for a building lot will have to be paid for by assessment of the housing units themselves. If jobs and housing are within the same taxing jurisdiction, there can be balance. That's not what America has now. The pattern of development is dependent on the automobile, so - unlike historic cities and towns, up through the 1950's, walking or biking to the store, school, work and recreation is not an option. Markets are too dispersed. Neighborhood services disappeared. Check the history - and give it some thought. Let me know what you think.
Cold War History, Vol.2, No.2, January, 2002
Journal cover.
