I think this may be caused by zoning. If people were allowed to gradually grow an area rather than wait until things got 'rezoned' before a place can built up,

I think this may be caused by zoning. If people were allowed to gradually grow an area rather than wait until things got 'rezoned' before a place can built up, we might see less of the 'big developer' type construction and rather smaller developers adding a duplex or a four plex and over time the city grows up rather than what happens right now.