America's Zoomtowns are suffering from some nasty growing pains

Wed, 01/24/2024 - 05:23

Two people playing catch in a yard while a modern city forms behind them — America's midsize cities exploded over the past few years. Now residents, new and old, are fighting over housing, traffic, and local culture.
Glenn Harvey for BI

When I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2017, I had little idea about what to expect in my new home. I had spent the past decade living in dense, European-style cities with tight rows of apartment buildings and plenty of public transportation. My friends were a little surprised by the shift, but even the skeptics had to concede that there was likely at least one upside. "I bet you can buy a really cheap house there," one said.