Architects rumored to be commission favorites become popular, while the definition of affordable housing becomes illegal room rentals, hot plate included. The evidence also suggests that land-use regulation increases the rate of suburbanization by impeding attempts to redevelop land in metropolitan areas. Unimpeded by arbitrary zoning requirements, developers would probably build more densely and create more mixed-use neighborhoods. When limited by regulations, developers sacrifice profits and build out rather than up. Affordable housing moves to the edges of a metropolitan area and look-alike houses meeting government standards cover the landscape.
People travel long distances between residential, retail, and employment centers.
Land-use controls combined with poor municipal services produces sprawl even faster. While the U.S. and Canada have similar urban property crime rates, the U.S. violent crime rate is 4 to 6 times higher with a much greater differential between U.S. central cities and suburbs. Large Canadian cities have denser populations than large U.S. ones. Poor schools also create suburbs. In the U.S., where urban schools are infamous, the figure is 40 percent.