Post-Sprawl Metropolis: Planning for the Transition to Sustainability
Jennifer Wolch
Department of Geography
USC Sustainable Cities Program
Building the sustainable metropolis: Key challenge of post-sprawl era
What is sustainability? The four E’s Environment: insure long-term viability of
ecosystem and continued provision of “nature’s services”
Economy: secure high quality of life for current and future generations
Equity: promote social justice for people as well as nature
Engagement: involve full spectrum of stakeholder groups and residents in planning and policy
Why ‘sprawl’ may be less sustainable than other forms of urbanization Environment
Resource intensive Land/habitat consumptive
Economy May not reflect consumer preferences Can limit regional development
Equity Reinforces social polarization Exacerbates fiscal inequities
Engagement Fragments regional identity and dialogue
The way from here to there Using life-cycle & cross-cutting indicators Rethinking ‘non-urban’ policy arenas Collaborating across race, class, nation &
species Building cross-stakeholder coalitions Constructing bold demonstration projects
Academic-developer collaboration Building green & clean Mixed use, mixed densities, mixed
incomes Education for coexistence Understanding cats & dogs (and ‘gators
too)
Ideas from Harmony, Florida