American Planning Association

New Book Sounds Death Knell for Suburbs
Media Briefing Presentation

CHICAGO — The suburbs are in a fragile state and it is only going to get worse. The recent foreclosure crisis has masked the true, underlying problems facing U.S. suburbs. These are basic structural problems that will not vanish with a global economic recovery.

Foreclosing the Dream: How America's Housing Crisis Is Reshaping Our Cities and Suburbs, published by the American Planning Association (APA), is the first book to look beyond financial manipulations to understand what truly fueled the foreclosure crisis and what it means for the future of suburbs and cities.

According to the book:

Higher rates of foreclosures in new suburbs and exurbs compared to lower rates in cities show that the American Dream is changing.
The number of households in the 30 to 45 age group has declined by 3.4 million since 2000 and this has reduced demand for large suburban houses.
The stereotypical "white flight exodus" from central cities has been reversed in most large metropolitan areas.
Changing demographics and consumer attitudes coupled with political support for compact development, transit investments, and awareness about climate change all point to a dramatic shift in development patterns.

Author William H. Lucy, AICP, is an urban planning professor at the University of Virginia. He is the first to examine the full impact of foreclosures in conjunction with other factors such as the influence of politics, household demographic changes, household income, and national housing policies to generate a comprehensive view of what is happening in our communities.

In examining the foreclosure rates in 236 counties in the 35 largest metropolitan areas, combined with housing and income characteristics in each of the 50 states, Lucy provides a more complete understanding of the housing and financial crisis that began in 2008. Lucy's research shows that central city improvements throughout the past decade illustrate a pattern of growing revival.

"These shifts will lead to shorter commutes to work and less carbon dioxide emissions," Lucy said. "But these same shifts will lead to more poverty in suburbs and more financially stressed suburban governments."

The ongoing deterioration of the suburbs was actually masked by the housing price run-up that occurred between 2002 and 2006. And the foreclosure crisis has only served to accelerate the suburban deterioration.

"Two key questions will be answered during the next decade," Lucy said. "Is 2010 the threshold for rapid city revival in coming decades just as 1950 was the threshold for rapid suburban development during the next half century? And will developers, lenders, and government officials facilitate these positive changes in housing markets while also adapting to support declining suburbs?"

"Foreclosing the Dream is a warning for communities and elected officials. Lucy identifies a fundamental change in our communities that will only continue to gain momentum. His research illustrates that the foreclosure crisis has greater implications beyond just revising our current lending practices," said W. Paul Farmer, FAICP, APA's Chief Executive Officer.

The book includes specific data for the following 35 metropolitan areas: Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Buffalo; Charlotte; Chicago; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Milwaukee; Minneapolis/St. Paul; New York; Orlando; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Pittsburgh; Portland, OR; Sacramento; San Antonio; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; St. Louis; Tampa/St. Petersburg; Virginia Beach; Washington, D.C.

Foreclosing the Dream is available through APAPlanningBooks.com for $52.95 ($34.95 for APA members). ISBN: 978-1-932364-78-1. Paperback: 208 pp.

Lucy is the Lawrence Lewis Jr. Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia. Foreclosing the Dream is the first book to examine the broader context of the foreclosure crisis in terms of causes and effects, including influences of household demographic changes, household income, national housing policies, and national politics on the changing prospects of cities and suburbs throughout the United States. Lucy also is the author, with David Phillips, of Tomorrow's Cities Tomorrow's Suburbs, which was published by the American Planning Association in 2006.

As a watershed year comes to a close, Tamika Butler, Esq., founder and principal of Tamika L. Butler Consulting, joins host Courtney Kashima, AICP, on this episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast series. The result is a stirring, uplifting, and funny conversation on the issues facing everyone who works to undo society’s inequities. Tamika’s practice focuses on the built environment, equity, antiracism, diversity and inclusion, organizational behavior, and change management. A transportation planner, lawyer, and nonprofit executive director in previous roles, she explains why she struck out on her own after the pandemic started. She and Courtney discuss the positives and negatives of working for yourself, as well as why it’s important for urban planning firms and other agencies to collaborate with each other.

Both planners express their hopes for equity work going forward — that agencies and organizations understand that these endeavors cannot be done once and forgotten about. That engagement should be an ongoing priority rather than something done when the timing suits the organization. That those in positions of power recognize how easy it is to value people, and that firms become culturally specific, not just culturally competent. Tamika also shares her advice for planners looking to step into their power and put their antiracism ideals into practice.

In this APA podcast - part of the Planning for Equity series - Bobby Boone, founder and chief strategist of &Access, discusses economic development strategies for combatting displacement of small minority-owned businesses. Boone shares how planners can work with small businesses, what to look out for, and how to engage owners.

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/planning-to-ensure-longevity-for-small-minority-owned-businesses/

By his estimation, Donald Shoup, FAICP, thinks about parking more than anybody else. That seems plausible, as he's been a longtime advocate for progressive parking policy. In fact, his ideas have spread so widely that not only does he have fans, but they even have a nickname for themselves: "Shoupistas." Don is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Urban Planning at UCLA, author of the seminal High Cost of Free Parking, and editor of the recent Parking and the City. He chats with host Courtney Kashima, AICP, about how he got into the transportation subfield and how, throughout his career, he has tried to further equitable policies and correct market and government failures when it comes to parking. He describes his basic thesis from The High Cost of Free Parking, which is that cities should (1) get rid of all minimum parking requirements, (2) charge demand-based prices for on-street parking, and (3) spend the revenue to pay for public services in the metered neighborhood. He and Courtney discuss those tenets as well as new parking-payment technologies, the growing need to better manage curb space, and even a bit of Roman history, all with Don's trademark passion and humor.

During NPC19 in San Francisco, host Courtney Kashima, AICP, sat down with John Rahaim, the city and county's planning director. On the table during their conversation are issues the city's grappling with now, from the housing crisis and homelessness to design review and short-term rentals. John divulges the route he took to his current position — he grew up in Detroit, got plugged in to planning in Pittsburgh, and eventually made a move to the West Coast. The two unpack the phenomenon of highly visible planning leaders, the growing pains San Francisco experienced in dealing with Airbnb, and the importance of the Citywide LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy. Through concrete examples of actions the department has taken in its work, John underscores the need for planners to experiment with the programs and policies they develop.