New urbanism is a philosophy of city and community planning that arose in response to the negative consequences of suburban sprawl. It promotes the creation of sustainable, livable, and healthy communities that offer residents a way of life that has been nearly obliterated suburbanization. Suburban sprawl has spread across the country since the invention of the automobile and the housing boom that followed World War II. Because of the relatively low cost of gas and electricity in America, as well as the abundance of natural resources and room for expansion, the landscape is dominated roads and strip malls.
Traditional neighborhood design, which revolved around a town center, with businesses mixed in with residential neighborhoods and efficient public transportation, is echoed in new urbanism. The popularity of new urbanism grew in the 1980s and 1990s. Many people support city and community design that incorporates new urbanism philosophy, especially with traffic congestion and commute times at an all-time high. The “T” grid is preferred in grid design because it helps control traffic flow and discourages pass-through traffic.
The creation of a walkable community is one of the major focuses of new urbanism. Only about 6% of daily errands are currently completed on foot in the United States. A community built with new urbanism in mind includes areas for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as services that are easily accessible foot.
In contrast to many suburbs today, the new urban community is non-automobile oriented. This promotes physical activity and community involvement. Front porches are also recommended for this reason, as they encourage neighbors to interact and share the space in front of their homes.
Green space, like green building, is an important aspect of new urbanism. Green construction promotes environmentally friendly and long-lasting residential and commercial structures. Aesthetics are crucial, and many new urbanism designers have succeeded in combining traditional and modern elements. Some new urban communities are designed in a more traditional manner, evoking a pre-war neighborhood.
New urbanism also emphasizes mixed-use development in neighborhoods. This means that there are single-family homes, multi-family homes like row housing, office buildings with living space above, and commercial buildings that provide essential services to the neighborhood’s residents. Encouragement of businesses leads to the creation of jobs in the area, making it easier for residents to find work nearby.
Andres Duany and his wife, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, are pioneers in the new urbanism movement, having founded the Congress for the New Urbanism, which defined the movement’s 13 main characteristics. A neighborhood center is one of them, with the majority of buildings within 2,000 feet (609.6 meters). Buildings in the neighborhood center should be located close to the street. Residents should not have to travel far for their daily needs if services are located outside of the community.
Streets should be narrow, tree-lined, and designed to provide pedestrians and motorists with a variety of routes throughout the community. For children, elementary schools should be within walking distance. Playgrounds should be small and within walking distance of each home.
Housing options for families, singles, and retirees should be available in a variety of price ranges. A small building or apartment built on top of the garage could be rented out or used as office space. Garages should be in the back of the house, with an alley access.
Civic structures should be constructed in prominent locations. Finally, the neighborhood should be fairly self-governing, with decision-making authority over community-related issues. Many cities and states are adopting a new urbanism approach to drafting building codes and zoning laws, as well as legislation to address sprawl.