Large Urban Developments and the Future of Cities: The Case of Neighborhoods

Abstract

The production of neighborhoods on a large or mass scale has not been successful. Procuring the neighborhood ideal requires an attention to detail that few large corporations or government agencies seem capable of instituting. Yet planned neighborhoods have definite pluses: institutionalized leadership, clearly defined social and spatial boundaries, and a sense of control. What is needed is an approach that combines the best of both worlds—a dose of planning, with plenty of flexibility and local empowerment.