Table 3.

Obstacles and opportunities in moving toward the sustainable suburb

Economic	Social	Environmental
Obstacles
The cost of new infrastructure, especially transit. The cost of retrofitting vs new construction on greenfield sites.	Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) sentiment. Political opposition to changing zoning for multi-family and mixed-use developments.	Existing development patterns. Increasing density while maintaining air and water quality, avoiding traffic congestion, and providing more public green space.
Opportunities
More people working remotely. More online shopping.	Greater diversity. Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) sentiment.	Connecting with neighboring suburbs and the region for transit, trails, and parks.