This was exactly the topic of Ben Adler’s piece "A Tale of Two Exurbs" published last month at The American Prospect. Adler details life in two Washington, DC "exurbs"—suburbs so far from central cities that they are more like suburbs of suburbs—pointing out the pitfalls of suburban sprawl. In Leesburg, VA, the "archetypical American exurb," transportation is deplorable. Roads are congested, walkability is absent, and the community is without "character." In short, Leesburg is where sprawl went wrong.
Oh, but this is not intrinsic to exurban living, Adler thankfully proclaims. Indeed, Gaithersburg, MD offers a fascinating counter-example. Gaithersburg has a quaint "downtown," very few cars, lots of walking, and...wait for it...a wonderful sense of community. Click Below to Read The Full Article
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