low density

This is an important week for the future of downtown development. Over the last few years, the City has advocated dense downtown development as an alternative to suburban sprawl, traffic, and high infrastructure costs.

On December 17, the Austin City Council is scheduled to vote on proposals to require developers to provide community benefits such as affordable housing, child care services, or cultural spaces.

Is downtown density a good thing?

That's the big question this month as the Austin City Council reviews proposals that would dramatically change the rules for downtown development.

The Overhead Wire asks what sprawl is.

 Ryan Avent gives his answer -- he uses "sprawl" to refer to neighborhood density rather than regional density.

 (As a stats geek, I would state it this way:  "What matters is a metropolitan area's weighted density and not its standard density.")

The Overhead Wire asks what sprawl is.

 Ryan Avent gives his answer -- he uses "sprawl" to refer to neighborhood density rather than regional density.

 (As a stats geek, I would state it this way:  "What matters is a metropolitan area's weighted density and not its standard density.")