The problem is that the "utility" of suburban sprawl is in no small part due to the historical price of energy. If and when energy prices go higher (and there

The problem is that the "utility" of suburban sprawl is in no small part due to the historical price of energy. If and when energy prices go higher (and there are good reasons to believe they will) I think we'll see a necessary shift. Aside #1: I think of "walkable neighborhoods" as an interesting counterpoint to "sprawl." The health benefits of living in walkable neighborhoods are well established. Aside from health, the folks at walkscore.com recently highlighted research that suggests home values retain better in walkable neighborhoods: http://blog.walkscore.com/2009/08/new-study-shows-one-point-of-walk-score-worth-up-to-3000/ http://blog.walkscore.com/2009/08/new-study-shows-one-point-... Aside #2: Kunstler often makes entertaining points about the aesthetic of sprawl, be he's also a bit of an overwrought doomsayer -- I take his work with several grains of salt.