A comprehensive evaluation ofSustainable development urbanCrisis andLandscape suburban landscapesLandscape under expansions and recessions requires an in-depth understanding of historical, cultural, and political aspects and implications of long-term economic dynamics and short-term shocks. A tight integration between quantitative methodologies and qualitative approaches seems to be particularly appropriate when reading territorial complexity. By integrating different disciplinary visions, this chapter reflects on the latent evolution of spatially varying (urban and rural) landscapesLandscape. In a time of crisisCrisis, an increasing debate has been promoted on landLand quality, considering both agricultural and productive activities along the fringe, and on the related socioeconomic relations within metropolitan continuums. In a sustainable developmentSustainable development perspective, urban areas can be seen as multifunctional districts favoring diversified economies, and promoting agricultureAgriculture-related landLand-use possibly containing settlement expansion. Going beyond the aesthetic-visual approach typical of landscapeLandscape studies, and reflecting a regional scienceRegional science perspective, a sustainable management of the intrinsic metropolitan spacesSpace that are not strictly urban—and not strictly rural—is the final objective of our study. With this perspective in mind, an action plan stimulating virtuous paths and processes of sustainable developmentSustainable development is finally delineated, revitalizing degraded environmentsEnvironment in a time of reduced public budgets, and declining social cohesion in metropolitan regionsMetropolitan region.