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WHAT IS GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN?
What makes a neighborhood great? What are the characteristics that make people want to live there? Why do some neighborhoods stand out against all the rest? It all starts with design.
Good Neighborhood Design
Traditional neighborhood design, New Urbanism, and Smart Growth are all planning theories that have experienced a surge in appeal by planners, elected officials and local residents as an alternative to our current suburban development patterns. Although there may be subtle difference amongst these movements, they all share the core philosophy of creating sustainable and livable communities. These concepts are not new; rather they date back centuries ago to the ‘old-town’ style. Such towns were developed pre-automobile, when the primary mode of transportation was walking. Their design was purposeful and deliberate; it was intended to be a compact community so that residents could easily get to school, church, stores, friends and families’ homes.
Good Design Characteristics
America’s best communities have a set of characteristics that set them apart from the sprawling suburbs, as noted by the Smart Growth Network and the Congress for New Urbanism:
- Discernible center, such as a main street or public square with government buildings, shops and homes surrounding them;
- Noticeable boundaries;
- Compact in nature so residents may walk;
- Variety of housing types;
- Public and commercial activities in close proximity. Children can walk to school;
- Parks and open space;
- Connected grid enables multiple routes. Streets smaller, sidewalks larger, tree lined streets; landscaping;
- Reduced building set backs;
- Street parking instead of large building lots or garages;
- Community monuments and civic buildings;
- Variety of public transportation choices’;
- Quality architecture design; and
- Strong sense of community among residents.
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Wawaset Park, Wilmington
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Variety of Housing Types
One of the most prevalent themes shared among New Urbanism and Smart Growth, is a variety of housing types. People of all income levels should be able to afford quality housing without being segregated within the community. A variety of compact housing reduces environmental tolls, infrastructure costs, allows for jobs in close proximity, and helps create a strong sense of community among residents.
A range of housing choices allows all households to find their niche in a smart growth community – whether it is a garden apartment, a rowhouse, or a traditional suburban home – and accommodate growth at the same time. (SmartGrowth.org)
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Lexington Glen, Dover |
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Cannery Village, Milton |
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Layout
Traditional neighborhoods are laid out on an interconnected grid pattern. Traditional neighborhood speed limits average 15 to 20 mph; many standard neighborhoods typically range from 25-45 mph (Federal Highway Association, n.d.). Street widths average 28 to 30 feet wide, 12 feet for each lane and parking on one side of the street. Narrow streets compel people to drive slowly and thereby lead to less traffic accidents.
The intent is for residents to confront the least amount of traffic possible and for drivers to travel at slower speeds than in standard suburban neighborhoods.
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Parking
On street parking is encouraged because it slows drivers down. Large scale parking garages and lots take up space and are unpleasant to the eye (Local Development Commission, 2003). Alleys are encouraged because they allow for garages behind the home, thereby reducing traffic on the main roads. They also hide unsightly utilities and vehicles. Even curb radii are reduced in traditional neighborhoods to more appropriately accommodate the average neighborhood driver (Federal Highway Association, n.d.).
Alleys are an easy way to reduce traffic down the main roads and hide ugly utilities, while also providing a place for homeowners’ vehicles. |
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Justison Landing, Wilmington |
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Wawaset Park, Wilmington |
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Landscaping
Landscaping is one of the most important features of well-designed neighborhoods. Tree-lined streets provide shade, which provides a lower temperature for residents who are outside walking or biking. Tree lined streets create a vertical frame that feels like one is walking in an ‘outside’ room (Federal Highway Association, n.d.).
Tree-lined streets create a protective canopy, seen above in Wawaset Park. The canopy creates the feel of an ‘outside’ room, while also lowering the temperature.
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More Characteristics
Sidewalks in traditional neighborhoods average a foot wider than other neighborhoods. Typically, they are placed parallel to the street. The purpose of the sidewalk is not only to provide a pleasant walking experience, but also a route to a destination. Street lights are shorter and closer together to help add to the small-town feel. There may be no minimum building setbacks; rather, buildings are close to streets. The lack of building setbacks is designed to build the sense of community by assimilating residential and pedestrian activity. Buildings should also be placed side by side to increase the sense of community.
Simple, easy, and inexpensive design features such as shorter street lights add to the sense of community, while increasing homeowners’ safety.
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Spring Meadow, Smyrna |
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Last Updated: Friday October 16 2009
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