BETA
The anatomy of the cul-de-sac
Chapter 1
The blueprint of Levittown
Chapter 2
The invisible rules of zoning
Chapter 3
The anatomy of the cul-de-sac
Chapter 4
The cost of suburban sprawl
Ch 3 · The anatomy of the cul-de-sac
sloane Cul-de-Sac Suburban Design
Cul-de-sac style, oh, cul-de-sac style, Zoning makes it for a quiet mile!
sloane Cul-de-sacs require wider bulb turnarounds so massive modern fire trucks and garbage trucks can successfully turn around.
Fun Fact
Cul-de-sac translation: The term cul-de-sac literally translates from French as bottom of the sack or bag's bottom.
sloane The US government refused to insure mortgages for neighborhoods built on traditional, high-traffic grid systems.
Glossary
cul-de-sac (noun)
A street or passage closed at one end, typically featuring a circular turnaround area for vehicles. The Federal Housing Administration’s 1938 underwriting manual established standardized dimensions for these suburban dead-end turnarounds.
A street or passage closed at one end, typically featuring a circular turnaround area for vehicles. The Federal Housing Administration’s 1938 underwriting manual established standardized dimensions for these suburban dead-end turnarounds.
Quiz
What specific emergency vehicle's dimensions dictate the size of a cul-de-sac's circular end?
Quiz
In which New Jersey town was the modern American cul-de-sac layout first trialed in 1929?
Quiz
Which US federal agency released influential 1936 guidelines promoting curved streets and cul-de-sacs?