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Stapleton, Kevin

Community Development and Applied Economics

2011

MS

Over the past seventy-five years, United States' housing development policy has encouraged the creation of suburban and exurban neighborhoods and helped to price the working class out ofmany of the communities in which they work. While suburban neighborhoods often provide more affordable homes, they also increase social and environmental costs. This study explores the experience of Burlington, Vermont to encourage creation of integrated affordable housing, focusing specifically on its use of Inclusionary Zoning. It then offers a full cost accounting of suburban and exurban development, opment, inclusive of environmental and infrastructure costs. It then develops a full-cost per unit analysis of suburban development and considers the benefit that could come from partially redirecting those expenses towards dense urban development.