Forum Questions:

New Urbanism Index

The idea of new urbanism really appeals to me, but one thing still troubles me: Even if done right, with true economic mixing, and community governance that is not claustrophobic, how do you get around the look and the feel that the entire community was thrown up overnight and did not arise organically? I don't understand how a neighborhood can recall the past, if all the houses look contemporary. Won't this feel like a Disney version of a community rather than the genuine article?

Prof. Dorn McGrath of George Washington University responds:

You don't. It will.

Jeff Speck, co-author of Suburban Nation, responds:

We do everything we can to overcome the fact that these new communities are built quickly and from scratch. This includes using many different builders, architects, and creating the widest variety possible of building types and uses. However, it's still hard to avoid that "new car smell" no matter what you do. We are actually troubled by your question, because it implies that this problem is something that can be stopped, and it's here to stay. Our practice accepts that new subdivisions, office parks, shopping malls, and strip canters spring up overnight; our goal is to have new towns, villages, and cities springing up instead. Read Suburban Nation if you'd like to hear more. . .

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