Slides depicting more recent construction along boulevards and multi-lane avenues of several cities provided stark contrast to the scenes depicted in the older towns. These are buildings that no one will ever regard with affection. But there is hope if you raise your standards and demand better buildings. Traditional zoning segregates whereas civic design integrates. Zoning is not concerned with spiritual needs and beauty while civic design is concerned about spirituality.
Suburban sprawl is the result of zoning.
According to Kunstler, the way we tax property must also be revised. The existing taxation approach punishes people who put up good buildings and rewards those who build poorly designed buildings. The remedy is locational taxation where property is taxed based on the value of the location rather than on the type of building. Mr. Kunstler described New Urbanism as an effort that focuses on these principles. The initiative is composed of architects, activists, and politicians who are trying to restore civic design in America.