I have strong suspicions that the data doesn't hold up if examined closely, because "suburbs" are just low density towns, and small towns continue to exist nearly everywhere.
Sure maintenance comes around, but it always seems to work out, somehow.
Sure maintenance comes around, but it always seems to work out, somehow.
I spent a couple years in Macomb, IL when I was a kid. Take a look at that place on Street View.
Overall population growth is mostly what has allowed for things to “work out” previously, but as the rate of growth slows down or even goes negative for the first time in recent history, the necessary conditions may not hold anymore for things to “work out”.
However if it’s more than a mile it may not be walkable but that’s not the same thing as unsustainable.
Small towns haven't historically been built like that.