The Historical Roots of Sprawl - Joseph Smyth February 12, 2012

Following my post Russian evidence of smaller communities of the world appreciating synchronous telecooperation I was following up some of Franz Nahrada's  "links to links" in the email trail. I liked this description of how urban sprawl came about - the original dream and how it went wrong:

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The Historical Roots of Sprawl - Joseph Smyth

Before World War II, many Americans lived in small towns and villages, and dreamed of owning their own farm or homestead. After the war ended, more and more Americans moved to the larger industrial cities, bringing with them these visions of home ownership. The factories that had been expanded to supply the war effort were being reconverted to peacetime production, and jobs were plentiful. Americans were proud of winning the war, and there was an optimistic mood in the country. The economy was booming, and everybody wanted a piece of the good life.

In 1947, east coast developer William Levitt had a dream of his own: to build affordable homes away from the congested cities. Brooklyn-born Levitt bought acres and acres of potato fields on New York’s Long Island. For no money down and $65 a month, a $6,900 Cape Cod home could be bought, and bought they were! Levitt’s dream was so successful that he built and sold thousands, completing as many as 36 a day. Levittown and the suburban tract home and lifestyle were born, and the new form of The American Dream took hold.

At first, this form of land planning and building worked  - more at http://www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/articles/amerdrem.shtml