Dead Enders

Since their introduction in the 1920's cul de sacs have been synonymous with suburban planning. Finally the pushback has begun.

"Homeowners found that the cul-de-sac limited traffic, creating a sense of privacy, while encouraging ties among neighbors, who could hardly avoid one another. Developers liked the cul-de-sac because it made it possible to build on land unsuited to a grid street pattern and because home buyers were willing to pay a premium to live on one.

Now the cul-de-sac is excoriated in certain quarters, especially by New Urbanists, as a detriment to security, community and efficient transportation."

From The NY Times comes: Why Some Towns Place Roadblocks on Cul-de-Sacs
By Carla Baranuckus