BETA
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
YOUR GOAL
Master of Why American suburbs look alike
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.
sloane The US government refused to insure mortgages for neighborhoods built on traditional, high-traffic grid systems.
Fun Fact
Cul-de-sac translation: The term cul-de-sac literally translates from French as bottom of the sack or bag's bottom.
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?