[TheKidster]

In principle, I agree with what you're saying, but isn't there many areas in the US where people built hoses of their own or private companies developed rather appealing areas which later on deteriorated.

I've understood that Compton was once an attractive area in LA, even if it isn't today.

I would say that is just the nature of urban sprawl. It seems that as cities expand so does the crime/ghetto/urban blight problems.

[WesternCulture]

"I would say that is just the nature of urban sprawl. It seems that as cities expand so does the crime/ghetto/urban blight problems."

I guess you're right.

The difference between areas like Compton or Harlem (that were developed by private business initiative) and the Swedish concrete suburbs from the 1960:s (that were planned by "social engineers") is that while an area like Compton gradually deteriorated, the Swedish concrete suburbs became unattractive after a very short time.

My father and mother decided to move out already after one year although the building standard as such was ultra modern and building projects like these got a good deal of international recognition at that time (around 1970).