Reinventing the American Dream: Saving the Suburbs
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Abstract
This thesis examines the future of suburban environments and tactics for creating a more feasible suburban community through modifications of the existing elements of the site. The suburban environment may be revitalized through the introduction of mixed-use architecture as a new suburban typology. Through the merging of foreclosed, nonviable, and underutilized single family homes into vibrant mix-use centers the suburban environment can become a walkable, multi-functioning community capable of a fiscally and environmentally sustainable future. The suburbs must evolve into a more diverse environment in order to become a practical and efficient system. By restructuring the existing under-utilized infrastructure of the suburban environment into mixed-use nodes the suburban environment can progress into a productive and viable alternative to the current failed suburban framework. Shakopee, Minnesota is the site for the modification of the suburban.