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 New Urbanism is a town planning movement away from the spread-out, car-centered suburbs that have come to dominate the American landscape over the past 50 years. |
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Two prelimary studies suggest New Urbanism might be working to promote community.
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New Urbanists promote a return to the traditional town planning that defines places like downtown Charleston, South Carolina; old town Alexandria, Va., historic San Francisco and Georgetown in Washington DC. These traditional neighborhoods feature walkable Main Street shopping districts, downtown parks, and grid streets. | |
| Core principles of New Urbanism: | |||
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Walkability: De-emphasize the car: Mix: Traditional suburbs put homes in one area, schools in another and shopping in yet a third. New Urbanists mix building types, sizes and prices. A modest townhouse or duplex cozies up to large single family home, which may have a rental apartment over its garage. Apartments are built over street level stores. Community: |
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Basic
goods and services are available within a five-minute walk. Sidewalks,
narrow streets, and proximity of commercial and residential areas facilitate
walking. 
Garages
are hidden in alleys, out of sight. Parallel street parking replaces
the parking lot.
New
Urbanist design encourages human interaction by keeping houses close
to each other and close to the street. Residents gather on front porches,
in nearby parks and on open plazas. Neighbors share driveways, walkways
and alleys. |
   
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