"How do we know 'waste' when we see it? [...] When it comes to land use patterns, the acid test is is simply whether the urbanized area grows or not. Does it attract labor and capital in ways that they can make a go of it?" (Peter Gordon)
It seems to be the case of urban growth in Pittsburgh (increase in urban footprint with no increase in population. and Pittsburgh's economy is not that bad considering the USA context). But could it be more efficient and still make people’s lives better ? The sprawl debate still have a long way to go since it is not a straightforward issue.