For parents, the communities in which we choose to raise our children can and should be an important consideration before selecting a home. It's not as easy as simply choosing a home in the suburbs or the city. As parents, we want to choose a community that will have a positive effect on the social, emotional and academic development of our children. Too often a home that is chosen for price or the size of the lot doesn't provide a supportive neighborhood feeling that is helpful for kids and soothing for parents. Our newspapers our filled with headlines of kids harmed by negative environments in their community whether they are affluent communities or not.
There is something else that is missing something that is unrelated to income but linked more so to social values and the ?human factor? that really defines a neighborhood in the traditional sense. A movement called ?new urbanism? is setting out to change the way we think of community by looking back to our past when the human factor was more important?when we knew our neighbors and took great joy in being involved in neighborhood activities.
In today's communities, with video games and parents traveling long commutes to and from work, the typical family is pulled in ways that make us feel isolated. Parents complain that their homes are just becoming a place to sleep and maintain. They are also concerned about the health of their children given the relative lack of healthy spontaneous outside activity that defines childhood today. Children aren't able to play outside with the freedom they use to because parents fear strangers might harm them. The video game and TV have sadly become babysitters for busy parents.
New urbanism is a backlash against this isolation and unhealthy community life. It's a move to take back our communities and to seek out ways to make our neighborhoods safer and friendlier for kids, entrepreneurs, green living and a thriving cultural life.
Women must take the credit for much of this movement to better quality living since they have borne the brunt of the difficulties arising from our current modern lifestyle. As women have gained more opportunities in the workplace and increasingly become the lead wage earner in single and dual parent families, they've borne the strain of maintaining some semblance of a healthy lifestyle while working ten-hour work days and juggling daycare. Many women have said enough is enough and are actively seeking resources, products and services to help them change their lifestyle.
New home builders, city planners, community and political leaders have responded by putting into place initiatives that support safer more attractive and affordable urban development and re-development options for families. We see old cities coming alive again with new home developments designed to attract traditional families, single moms, entrepreneurs, young professionals and others who want to live closer to where they work and to urban cultural offerings (e.g. ballet, theater, art galleries and city parks).
Our suburbs are also teeming with new urbanism communities that respond to the suburban mom's desire for friendlier communities, cultural town centers, and activities that encourage walking, biking and a real neighborhood feeling.
Parents really have an impact on the personality of our communities. Parents, especially moms, are the ones that are closest to the feelings and aspirations of kids and it is therefore up to us to ensure that we create opportunities for our kids to learn, play and live in communities that are safe, that support green living and a sense of belonging and joy for all who live there.
After generations of planned suburban life, America has developed intimate knowledge of both the benefits and pitfalls of this kind of development. Built for cars more than pedestrians and for private space more than association, the design of most suburbs works counter to community life rather than in favor of it. Making a community walkable is essential to a robust community spirit and unfortunately is what's lacking in most suburban developments. Though they may in fact have sidewalks, these often lead nowhere.
Over the past few decades, addressing these pitfalls has given rise to a new school of thought in urban planning known as new urbanism. New urbanisists are taking the traditional suburban model and infusing it with diversity, walk ability and shared spaces. Storefronts and offices are mixed in with houses. Housing choices include apartments, townhouses, semi-detached homes, cottages and condos along with single-family homes.The new designs create street scapes along with the neighborhoods. Green space, plazas, boulevards and community squares become integral to the design rather than frivolous add-ons. Homes are deliberately close to services - with schools, community centers, public pools and shops all within walking distance.
10 ELEMENTS OF NEW URBAN COMMUNITIES:
1. A discernible city center
3. A variety of housing types to accommodate multiple income levels and family types
2. Homes built within a 5 to 10 minute walk of the center
4. Ample green space, parks and playgrounds
5. Narrow streets that favor pedestrians and bikes over cars. Sidewalks and pathways that encourage walking.
6. Mixed use buildings that accommodate shops, offices and retail stores. Residents should be able to do their weekly shopping within the community
7. Increased density and more efficient land use
8. Reliable public transportation that accommodates people who choose not to have cars and community members who don't drive including seniors and teenagers
9. Sustainable, energy efficient and eco-friendly design
10. Streets that are connected to one another providing multiple routes to any destination
SUSTAINABLE STAPLETON, CO
The planned community of Stapleton is a great example of a new urban development just ten minutes from downtown Denver. Built on an old airfield, in 2001 Stapleton developers began a 15 year project of reclaiming and recycling the land to create a vibrant suburban community. Tree lined streets, parks, traditional architecture and front porches make this area supremely walkable. Thirty percent of the community's 47K acres are dedicated green space and with most homes less than a ten minute walk from shops, schools and offices, there are plenty of places to go. Housing options range from low $100k town homes all the way to $1m estates making it easy for all kinds of folks to call Stapleton home.
Both Sharon Mcmillan & Stacy Neir are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sharon Mcmillan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Food and Drink, Parenting and Careers and Job Hunting. Sharon McMillan is a writer and advocate for the healthy ?new urbanist? lifestyle. She's a suburban mom of two who has developed a career around marketing and promoting healthy productive communities for families and businesses. If you have comments or qu. Sharon Mcmillan's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.
Stacy Neir has sinced written about articles on various topics from Parenting, Real Estate. Stacy and Alex Neir are dedicated Stapleton residents and full-time realtors with over nine years experience in the market. To learn more about. Stacy Neir's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.