Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the history and mechanics of the "residential area"—land specifically zoned for housing rather than commerce or industry. We trace the evolution of housing development, from the bespoke mansions and crowded tenements of the past to the mass-produced "streetcar suburbs" and post-WWII subdivisions like Levittown that defined the American middle class.

Join us as we discuss how the automobile shaped neighborhood infrastructure and examine the common criticisms facing modern residential developments today, including community isolation, car dependency, and the lack of mixed-use spaces that force residents to commute for basic services. Whether you live in a gated community or a rural tract, this episode reveals why your neighborhood was built the way it is.