If communities remain dense about high density housing -- the foundation upon which smart growth is built -- it doesn't matter that recent studies have quantified the value of smart growth.

Virtually anywhere high-density housing is proposed -- in urban centers, on the fringe of cities or in older sprawling suburbs -- it gets an initial knee-jerk thumbs down because of those who believe the housing contributes to traffic congestion, crime, lower property values and other social ills.

It's a lingering throwback to the housing projects and tenaments of an era gone by.

Today's studies of high-density housing constructed as part of well-planned, smart growth policies, however, reveal quite the opposite.

Nevertheless, neighborhood NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) rally the troops by preying upon ignorance-generated fear to lobby against high-density development.

A minority of outspoken residents in a given community can sway an entire neighborhood and hold smart growth hostage when the majority doesn't bother to research the facts.

Stagnant or stupid growth is the result.

Earlier this year the Urban Land Institute (ULI), in cooperation with the National Multi-Housing Council (NMHC) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), convened a ULI/ NMHC/AIA Joint Forum on Housing Density to help dispel some myths and change perspectives about high-density development.

Studies on both sides of the argument have revealed strong public support for limiting the excesses of infrastructure-taxing suburban sprawl which also robs communities of open space. Yet, proposals for the kinds of housing developments that could address those problems meet with stiff community opposition.

To dispel misbeliefs, Susan Ingraham Bell, director of the Arlington County, VA Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development, and Andrew A. Viola, regional vice president of Bush Construction Corp., presented experiences revealing successful implementation of high-density housing in Arlington County.

The two said, as has been the case in other areas, high-density housing can be a success when it is transit-oriented, coupled with neighborhood preservation, includes retail and other mixed-uses and is laden with features important to those likely to live in such communities -- singles, empty nesters and students among others.

Certain elements are critical to a successful high-density development process.

Published: July 18, 2002

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A journalist for 35-years, Broderick Perkins parlayed an old-school daily newspaper career into a digital news service offering editorial content and consulting services. Perkins' San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group includes the flagship news site, DeadlineNews.Com, offering real estate, personal finance and consumer journalism, and a backshop, the Deadline Newsroom.