1959 Film from ULI and National Association of Homebuilders Warns of Urban Sprawl

This 1959 film, "Community Growth, Crisis and Challenge," warns citizens, developers, and city officials of the dangers of urban sprawl. This historical artifact, co-sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Urban Land Institute ULI) provides alternative approaches to land development. The film was produced by the NAHB.

For more information on ULI's historical 75 years, go to: http://www.uli75.org

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• ULI
• NAHB
• urban
• land
• sprawl
• history
• development
• suburbs
• cities

[mattalexto]

@waaaghboss64 but if you look at what this film proposes it's still low-density, car-dependent development. I was shaking my head through most of this.

[redsneakers10]

Look closely at the numbers and solutions presented here and the goal seems to be making sprawl more cost effective (especially for the homebuilder) rather than providing a true alternative. At 12:23, the projects have virtually the same low density, but the builder saves on paving and infrastructure at the cost of a connected street grid.

[mcculley4]

The problem is with our zoning codes and NIMBYs. Typically, a developer can propose a more innovative, higher density mixed use plan, but it is a conditional use and not "by right" as the typical development would be. It comes down to a political vote with all of the surrounding owners speaking against density and townhomes and commercial and apartments. What developer is going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a plan that requires a political vote? Not many.

[footage]

This film is mirrored from the Prelinger Archives copy hosted by Internet Archive.

[lindanueva]

Thanks for uploading this. I'm forwarding it to all my female urban planning colleagues for their amusement:-)

[RichardKenni]

The types of "alternative" planning here were types that would lead to habitat fragmentation and wouldn't really make much difference in Urban Sprawl. Some of these ideas were implemented but still we have the problem. And the part about old townhouses being "monotonous" and "ugly" was disagreeable. The 1950s townhomes all look the same and not-so-good in my opinion. Modern & Victorian designs are probably better than the neo-colonial and mid-century styles used in the 1950s and 60s too.

[Sevenfold120]

Problem is everything is segregated. Town homes in their zoned lots. Apartments in theirs, Shopping centers in theirs.

[Sevenfold120]

@1971gmw It was fashionable to build mix use in Europe. American designers were just fucking stupid.

[wildowl]

year 1959.. now 2011. ???

[1971gmw]

Growth has to go somewhere. If it doesn't go into appropriate places it goes into inappropriate places. Don't know what @mattalexto was listening to. Over 50 years ago, long before it was fashionable, this film was talking about open space & farmland preservation, mixed use, planned unit development, higher density, community participation in the planning process, among other things.