Suburbia Re-Examined (contributions In Sociology) [Hardcover]

The changing nature and definition of suburbia, past and present, and the processes that have influenced its development both physically and as an intellectual construct are examined from various perspectives by the authors of the 26 essays that compose this work. The revolutions in transportation and communication and their effects upon home and workplace, city and suburb, are among the issues explored in provocative essays by experts in the field who consider a broad spectrum of topics relative to the suburban experience. Noted urban historian Sam Bass Warner, Jr., provides a fascinating overview of the subject, urging urban scholars to focus on current conditions rather than on solving old problems.

The changing nature and definition of suburbia, past and present, and the processes which have influenced its development both physically and as an intellectual construct are examined, from various perspectives, by the writers of the 26 essays that compose Suburbia Re-examined. These chapters were drawn from papers presented in June 1987 at a conference on suburbia sponsored by the Long Island Studies Institute at Hofstra University. Escalated prices for single family homes have in effect closed the gates to suburbia for many of the young and the elderly. Diverse quality-of-life environmental problems, including water supply, have become matters of real concern to experts and suburban dwellers alike. Interestingly, as industry, commerce, and corporate headquarters continue to proliferate in what were once bedroom communities serving nearby cities, even the usefulness of the term suburbia for these varied communities has come into question. The revolutions in transportation and communication and their effects upon home and workplace, city and suburb, are among the issues explored in provocative essays by experts in the field who consider a broad spectrum of topics relative to the suburban experience including regional patterns of development, real estate lÃ.