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Why did grid plans make it easier to divide and sell land in expanding American cities?
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urban planning
Georges-EugĂšne Haussmann's modernization plan transformed many areas of Paris through the addition of wider boulevards, better lighting and water sanitation, new parks, and improved rail transportation.
The grid plan, most notably exemplified by William Pennâs design for Philadelphia, became the standard for American urban expansion because it offered the simplest method for dividing surveyed territory.1
By establishing uniform, standard-sized lots, the grid system significantly facilitated the development of land markets. This structure allowed parcels of land to be easily bought and sold, even by purchasers who had not seen the property in person. Because the grid prioritized geometric regularity over the complexities of local topography, it provided a predictable and efficient framework for the rapid parceling and commercialization of land as pioneers moved westward.1