An example of new thinking about land use is ‘brownfields.’ Over the past few decades, suburban sprawl and the availability of cheap, undeveloped land led to the abandonment of commercial and industrial property, leaving contaminated land in inner cities. The problem was exacerbated by stringent regulations regarding the cleanup of soil, liabilities associated with the ownership of contaminated properties, and the reluctance of funding entities to lend for development on these brownfields.  In the late 1990s, however, efforts to increase awareness about the scale of the problem and its impact on the economy — and quality of life in cities — led to focused efforts to reuse brownfields. These efforts, combined with a demand for city housing and city living, and the problems caused by long commutes and traffic congestion resulting from sprawl, have stimulated the redevelopment of brownfields for productive uses such as houses, businesses, schools, and parks.