Reinventing the suburbs: Old myths and new realities

The term suburb is surrounded by myths, externally-imposed images and entrenched meanings that are increasingly unsuited to the realities of contemporary metropolitan life. Identifies some of the myths, documents the evolution of postwar suburban environments and offers a critical evaluation of the nature of the suburbanization process. Examples illustrate the increasing social diversity of suburbs, decentralization of production, political fragmentation, the privatization of community, and the variable imprint of planning and the state. Notes other ways of summarizing outcomes and identifies emerging issues and planning challenges. (Original abstract-amended)