By 2060, the American South Could Be Three Times as Urbanized

[M II A II R II K]

By 2060, the American South Could Be Three Times as Urbanized


July 25th, 2014

Read More: http://www.citylab.com/housing/2014/...anized/375017/

Additional: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%...l.pone.0102261

Southern city planners and conservationists, look alive: New predictions map the future spread of urban sprawl in Dixie, and it is immense. Basing their model on past growth patterns and locations of existing road networks, researchers at North Carolina State University projected the region’s expansion decades into the future. According to their forecast, the Southern urban footprint is expected to grow 101 percent to 192 percent.

- The South's explosive population growth over the past 60 years can only be expected to continue, the researchers report. And more likely than not, so will its typical development pattern of sprawling, automobile-dependent suburbs. Planners and city leaders should start acting now to managing infrastructure and natural resources in the area. As our own Richard Florida indicated in March, the mega-region dubbed Char-lanta already has an economy larger than South Korea's, with more than a trillion dollars in output.

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'Char-lanta" includes Birmingham, Raleigh, and several other metros in addition to Charlotte and Atlanta

[chris08876]

O dear. Accelerated urban sprawl = mundane sprawlvilles.

[dimondpark]

Yeah, urbanized is not the same thing as urban.

[Centropolis]

that's great. the sky is going to be orange at night in smoky mountains national park.

[Evergrey]

Looks like Huntington-Charleston-Beckley will be a linear megalopolis stretching across the southern half of West Virginia.

[dave8721]

97% chance of urbanizing the south shore of Lake Okeechobee in Florida? Different levels of government have been trying to buy up as much land as possible in that area in an attempt to restore the natural flow of water into the Everglades. I would think the 2 outcomes for the area are wildlife management/water flow areas or sugar farms. "Urbanization" doesn't seem likely to me.

This corridor between Clewiston and Belle Glade is the battle ground between the Army Corps of Engineers and local farmers.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/La...e41d134d3bd54b

[M II A II R II K]

A green belt or 2 should be included, particularly areas that need protecting.

[MolsonExport]

A better title would be that urbanized areas in the South will occupy up to three times as much space.

[cityscapes]

Federally mandated urban growth boundaries? It's in our best interest to prevent these cities sprawling out of control. The free market does not know best when it comes to land use decisions.

[M II A II R II K]

It's also implied that economic balance of power will be more balanced with the northeast.

[Perklol]

Some areas could be under water by then.

[chris08876]

I wouldn't mind this if the expansion included smart growth policies. The problem is when the sprawl becomes disorganized and inefficient like it currently is. I'd be nice to stick to what we have and put an emphasis on density and better mass transit. But, who am I kidding, I'm thinking this is a perfect world which it isn't.

The South should look at metros like Seattle or in the Northeast that are doing just that. Maybe even South Florida which is slowly becoming a little more efficient even though it sprawls. The recent rail plans and the densification is a start for S.Florida. IDK though how it will apply to the rest of the South. Florida is starting to think a little more like the NE.

[Perklol]

More smart growth could work in the south.

[tdawg]

I don't know, this doesn't seem very well thought out to me. For instance, by 2060 it's highly likely that metro Huntsville will equal or exceed Birmingham's.

[urbanlife]

I can definitely see that happening. Atlanta is basically becoming the Manhattan of the South (not in the same urban sense, but in the dominant city sense.) Unfortunately much of that growth will probably be in the form of suburban growth and highway expansions rather than urban and rail growth.

[Centropolis]

"by 2060, the south will have developed it's own version of white castle. they will no longer be reliant on a midwestern fast food chain to enjoy the comforts of spraying down a toilet bowl while hungover at the same time."

"by 2060, we will have developed the flying car, but the airspace of atlanta will still be clogged up with florida bound midwestern and canadian plated flying RVs the days right after christmas."

[arkitekte]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

"by 2060, the south will have developed it's own version of white castle. they will no longer be reliant on a midwestern fast food chain to enjoy the comforts of spraying down a toilet bowl while hungover at the same time."

Krystal

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by arkitekte

Krystal

oh yeh...

it's weird, you can get krystal hot sauce here but there's no locations.

[atlantaguy]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

oh yeh...

it's weird, you can get krystal hot sauce here but there's no locations.

I don't think it's the same people, Centropolis. Krystal isn't known for having hot sauce to my knowledge, they're all about the little square burgers - just like White Castle.

http://krystal.com/menu

[ardecila]

- The South's explosive population growth over the past 60 years can only be expected to continue, the researchers report.

Why? This is a fun little thought experiment but what are the factors that will sustain growth in the South?

Cheap energy? No.
Endless demand for exurban housing? No.
Immigration? Not if today's crop of politicians have their way.
Innovative companies creating jobs? I'm not seeing it.
Bottomless water supplies? Uh no.

I think Atlanta and Charlotte will plateau, soon, just as Chicago and New York did before it. Houston may continue growing, I think it has a far stronger approach (even if it's ugly as sin).