The Unfinished Suburbs of America

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/11/the-unfinished-suburbs-of-America/382707/

Empty lots can cause wildfires and flooding contamination, and can bring down the property values of nearby homes. They can also cost local governments money that they don't necessarily have, since the municipalities may have to provide public safety or snow removal to far-flung areas, without the benefit of the property taxes that had been expected.  It's unclear just how to 'fix' these zombie subdivisions. While some will be completed as the economy recovers, others may lie dormant for a long time. That’s especially true now that many young people and boomers want to live in walkable, urban environments, rather than subdivisions where they have to drive to everything.