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policy or standard, the rest will support the policy. <br />Because these groups--builders and lenders--are generally satisfied <br />with the past and present residential development, major changes sug- <br />gested by planners wi11 have to be sold on the basis of how much better <br />the results will be, rather than on how bad the cu�rent situation is. <br />Attempts to alter the character or raise the quality of development <br />should be directed primarily toward the builders, lenders, (including <br />FHA and VA) and governmental officials. <br />Th�re is also a definite need to increase the consumers' sensitivity to <br />his environment. Since consumers most readily respond to what they <br />can see and experience, their sensitivity may be sharpened by building <br />different residential environments which they can ghysically experience. <br />MPC could act as a strong catalyst in bringing about some "demonstra- <br />tion" developments of this nature. <br />While significant changes have been introduced in subdivision desi�n and <br />in housing density cancepts, many of the basic stanc <br />principles currently ingrained in the building indust <br />o riginated in the �lanning movement of s eve ral <br />can only be overcome by closer cooperation in <br />information among planners, lenders, builders <br />and consumers. <br />ec <br />ards, <br />�y anc <br />ies a� <br />exchange c <br />(and their <br />The Patterns and Location of Residential Development <br />conce ts , ana <br />lending ield <br />o. This "lag" <br />'�views and <br />designers) <br />The residential pattern observable throughout the Metropolitan Area <br />s inc e Wo rld W ar II is one of s c atte red s ubdivis ions built at low hous in <br />densities. <br />Land and develo ment costs are the most im ortant factors influencin <br />the buil er when he makes his locational decision. ince urban land <br />values generally decrease as the distance from urban development in- <br />creases, sub-dividers have located in the outlying urban fringeo Find- <br />ing large sites in single ownership is also easier in the fringe. The <br />larger the development, the farther out the builder must go to find an <br />adequate site at low cost; consequently, some of the largest housing <br />tracts have been developed for example in Coon Rapids and Cottage <br />Grove, both more than si}c miles from the edge of continuous develop- <br />ment. <br />This tendency to disperse is further encouraged by the cost of develop- <br />ing land a�'ter purchase. The builders of the low-cost housing will move <br />out to find level, well drained land bef�re they will take rolling, wooded <br />or poorly-drained land which may be closer-in but requires expensive <br />draining, grading, or clearingo <br />As long as detached single-family houses compose the bulk of the new <br />low cost housing supply--in which site costs average approximately <br />fifteen per cent of the total house price--the lower income families will <br />�� <br />