Smart Growth. Who would argue against that? After all, everybody wants to be "smart," and most of us like growth. Unless, of course, "Smart Growth" is really just a subtle nomenclature for "socialism."

Last week, Bank of America boasted that it had committed to donate $200,000 to the Urban Land Institute (ULI) over the next two years to "foster more informed and collaborative efforts among Smart Growth stakeholders."

According to a company press release, "This partnership with ULI, including outreach programs that will help define and focus regional Smart Growth efforts, further evidences the bank's commitment to America's cities."

The release goes on to say, "Bank of America views Smart Growth as integrating the efforts of business, government, community, and environmental stakeholders to create regional growth solutions " ."

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Visions dance through my head of children roaming free through low-traffic green spaces, horses romping through the fields central to master-planned communities, and trees growing in the courtyards of attractive commercial office parks. Until ".

The release continues, " " that provide economic success, environmental protection, and equitable opportunities and benefits for all segments of a community."

My dreams are shattered by this hideous description of a socialist utopian society.

Now, perhaps I am overreacting. My mother tells me that I have always tended to be reactionary. This dates back to the petition I circulated among my fourth-grade classmates when we were forbidden to speak during lunch. (I was outraged by this violation of my First Amendment rights, as well as group punishment, which I considered akin to conviction without a trial.)

But as a property rights advocate and strict constructionist, I must strongly question why ULI, which purports to be a nonpartisan organization, would take on such overtly political goals.

Just as the suburbanization of America has been subtly demonized, so are socialist goals creeping in to our visions of a "good" society. For evidence, you only need to look as far as the policies Bank of America and ULI espouse: Corporate headquarters committing to the Center City, a gross mistake whereby it becomes politically correct to relocate to a crumbling downtown. This is unfair to employees, who prefer to live in the outlying area, and to shareholders, who would benefit from a company making decisions based on corporate interests, not political ones.

Public transportation, a blatantly socialistic system whereby users pay a pittance and those who do not even use the bus or rail must subsidize others.

"Affordable housing," another name for subsidized housing.

We are all so acclimated to giving away our tax dollars so that others may use them for subsidized housing, subsidized transportation and "saved" downtowns that "Smart Growth" sounds really attractive.

"Bank of America is delighted to work with ULI, a respected organization that brings both experience and common sense to the collaboration required to revitalize urban America," said Mike Buchanan, Managing Director, Real Estate Banking. "Our partnership is focused on sensible and sustainable growth, not no-growth or even slow-growth. Together, we can put the 'smart' in Smart Growth."

Is he luring you into his camp? You have seen this tactic used before in the war over abortion. "Pro-life" and "pro-choice" per se both sound pretty attractive. What American is against life or choice, in general?

Similarly, what real estate professional can be against "smart growth?" How about a smart real estate professional.

It’s not that I am against excellent ideas like master-planned communities. On the contrary, I believe that true "smart growth" is essential to the intelligent use of land in our urban and suburban areas.

Yet the mixing of these ideas with social policy is a recipe for disaster that could result in an explosive combination of socialism, trampling of property rights and still more subsidies. I will really get nervous when the politicians start to get involved.

Architects of these strategies of course must keep in mind the health, prosperity and well-being of those who will live in these areas. But they are fooling themselves if they think real estate and business will jump on the social justice bandwagon. These folks may nod their heads and smile at politically correct Smart Growth conferences. But when there’s money to be made, the market economy will always win.

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