Benjamin Ross, author of “Dead End: Suburban Sprawl and the Rebirth of American Urbanism,” will speak at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, at UNC Charlotte Center City.
Ross researched why suburbanites fight dense developments, which led him deep into the founding values of U.S. suburbia, which, he said, is at the heart of status-seeking.
An environmental scientist and long-time transit advocate in suburban Washington, Ross has put together a history of suburbia and the attitudes that created it. His work “Dead End: Suburban Sprawl and the Rebirth of American Urbanism” has the potential to change the way planners, developers and residents of cities and suburbs view the development process in the United States.
Generally not a fan of NIMBYs – a slang term for people with a “Not in My Back Yard” attitude – Ross, noted that sometimes they are right. He stated the NIMBY movement, which arose in the 1970s, is seeing a convergence of the left with the right.
After Ross’ May 28 presentation, a local panel will discuss the issues of density, resistance to development, suburban sprawl and other related topics. Panelists will be Ken Szymanski, executive director of the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association; Kathy Hill, Stonehaven neighborhood activist; and Shannon Binns, director of Sustain Charlotte.
PlanCharlotte.org, the University’s Master of Urban Design Program and Sustain Charlotte are cosponsoring this free, public event.