When Town Officials Are Bribed To Approve Spawl

Large home builders are increasingly able and willing to bribe local governments to approve new greenfield developments.

1 minute read

July 26, 2006, 10:00 AM PDT

By Joel S. Hirschhorn

With big money to be made in the nation's strong housing market, developers looking to get new projects approved are coming to local officials with their checkbooks in hand.

In a recent case in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C., the town of Warrenton received $22 million dollars from Centex Homes in exchange for approving the construction of 300 new homes. While Centex positioned the development of clustered homes as "smart growth", the new homes, which will start at $850,000 and up, will likely attract workers from the capitol 40 minutes away.

FULL STORY: Sprawl bribery is beating smart growth

Monday, July 24, 2006 in Gristmill

Government / Politics Land Use Urban Development Virginia

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