Smart Growth: Residents’ Social and Psychological Benefits, Costs, and Design

2011 (Presenter Barbara Brown, Environmental Psychologist, Professor of Family & Consumer Studies, U of Utah) - Smart growth and allied movements, such as new urbanism, tout many societal-level benefits: preserved open space, less costly infrastructure, less automobile dependence and pollution, and more equitable housing and transportation opportunities. But does smart growth offer social and psychological benefits to residents? Both past social science studies and local planning efforts are filled with examples of how many residents fear and dislike crowding, “different” neighbors, and urban neighborhoods. Yet many residents of smart growth communities experience place attachment, enjoy neighborhood social contact opportunities, and achieve more transportation choices. I draw on local studies within Salt Lake County and refer to studies elsewhere to examine social and psychological benefits and costs of life in new urban and smart growth neighborhoods. I suggest that the traditional car-dependent suburban ideal is so powerful that smart growth proponents need a better understanding of how residents experience their communities in both smart growth and low-density suburban neighborhoods. When problems arise in these neighborhoods, research also suggests a number of solutions: better designs, greater understanding of the broad range of benefits and costs of both smart growth and suburban alternatives, and better communication of neighborhood qualities to promote smart choices by residents. This lecture was recorded at "Smart Growth," the Elizabeth Babbott Conant Interdisciplinary Conference on the Environment at Connecticut College on March 4 and 5, 2011. https://www.conncoll.edu/academics/majors-departments-programs/majors-and-minors/goodwin-niering-center-for-the-environment/conferences/smart-growth/