In the years after World War II; a distinctly American model for suburban development emerged. The expansive rings of outer suburbs that formed around major cities were decentralized and automobile oriented; an embodiment of Americas postwar mass-production; mass-consumption economy. But alternate models for suburbia; including "transit-oriented development;" "smart growth;" and "New Urbanism;" have inspired critiques of suburbanization and experiments in post-suburban ways of living. In Sequel to Suburbia; Nicholas Phelps considers the possible post-suburban future; offering historical and theoretical context as well as case studies of transforming communities.Phelps first locates these outer suburban rings within wider metropolitan spaces; describes the suburbs as a "spatial fix" for the postwar capitalist economy; and examines the political and governmental obstacles to reworking suburban space. He then presents three glimpses of post-suburban America; looking at Kendall-Dadeland (in Miami-Dade County; Florida); Tysons Corner (in Fairfax County; Virginia); and Schaumburg; Illinois (near Chicago). He shows Kendall-Dadeland to be an isolated New Urbanism success; describes the re-planning of Tysons Corner to include a retrofitted central downtown area; and examines Schaumburgs position as a regional capital for Chicagos northwest suburbs. As these cases show; the reworking of suburban space and the accompanying political process will not be left to a small group of architects; planners; and politicians. Post-suburban politics will have to command the approval of the residents of suburbia.
2015-12-02 2015-12-09File Name: B018UINHIU
Review
