Perspective

Sprawl Is Still Not the Answer

A chorus of critics insist that building on undeveloped land is the only way out of the US housing crisis. But the environmental costs of unrestrained growth are overwhelming.

A neighborhood of new homes outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Photographer: Roger Kisby/Bloomberg

Urban sprawl is having a moment.

Sick of the lack of progress in addressing the US shortage of 4.5 million homes, a whole new set of advocates are subscribing to an approach best described as “just build houses everywhere.”