I came across a really interesting article on the Web talking about what’s happening when developers turn away from “suburban sprawl” to urban areas and create “vertical sprawl,” new buzz word for me. We are not alone by any means in our fight against inappropriate infill. And I am reassured by this.

These quotes are from an article in The New York Times, Week In Review, August 6, 2006, “Cities Grow Up, and Some See Sprawl” by Nicholas Confessore. The subject is “vertical sprawl” or what we in Newburyport, MA are dealing with and would call inappropriate “infill.”

“We want to protect these places from being taken over by infill and driving out working-class people.”

“…in working-class urban communities, it means displacement and gentrification, often by redevelopment…”

“…high-density infill projects are too often tilted toward affluent buyers, which forces lower-income families out…”

“…vertical sprawl can differ from the suburban kind in the particulars, the general issues are remarkably consistent: traffic, parking and the cost of supporting new projects with schools, water and other municipal services.”

“..the battles over vertical sprawl tend to pit neighborhood associations against wealthy developers and builder-friendly politicians.”

(Infill) “…a stalking horse for developers…”

Mary Eaton
Newburyport