lol - I see your point - remember, other than the last few lines from the email thread, that entire essay was written over 10 years ago. perhaps 'cluster' or 'localize' might have worked better...

The city of Flint, Michigan is considering this very idea. Over the last few decades Flint has lost nearly half its population. They are considering the idea of moving the few remaining homes in some areas and resettling those people in a more concentrated core area. The abandoned areas would no longer need city services like fire protection, snow plowing and other street maintenance, or repairs of water and sewer systems. It is seen as a way of improving your dreaded economic efficiency in the operation of the city. The problem of suburban sprawl isn't even a factor in this plan.