Opolis

With characteristics differing from majority households, Latino growth is occurring at a time when California is torn between several urban development models—developing compact cities, preserving the environment, or increasing urban sprawl and slums. The central argument of this article is that Latinos’ cultural inclination to a lifestyle supportive of compact cities provides policymakers with a sustainable alternative that possesses a built-in consumer base. The development and advancement of compact cities in California may be dependent on the ability of policy makers to sustain and support the Latino lifestyle.

This article addresses city development policies that pressure Latinos to assimilate to the established US notion of appropriate space use and how they undercut the economic, social, and environmental benefits inherent in the Latino lifestyle. The article also illustrates the key role Latinos play in adapting and transforming existing neighborhoods to promote New Urbanist-type landscapes.