Above and Beyond

This book argues for a return to traditional development patterns that produce more compact cities and towns. Highlighting widespread trends in contemporary land development-from fragmentation (our tendency to spread out) to separation (our tendency to allocate separate areas of town for living, working, shopping and playing)-the authors offer case examples of communities that have succeeded in curbing those trends. They show how these communities have invigorated their town centers; lured home buyers back to town; integrated working, shopping and recreation areas; nurtured a sense of identity and community; rewritten land-use regulations to allow for more compact developing; and overcome the cars rule mentality of suburban development.