- Value [1] New Urbanism
- Become familiar with the main concepts behind New Urbanism:
- Value [2] Neighborhoods
- Creating Enduring Neighborhoods -- New Urbanism recognizes walkable, human-scaled neighborhoods as the building blocks of
sustainable communities and regions. The Charter of the New Urbanism articulates the movement's principles and defines the
essential qualities of urban places from the scale of the region to the individual building.
- Value [3] Urbanism
- Making Urbanism Legal Again -- Although compact, mixed-use urban form was the standard before 1950, separate-use zoning codes
and high-volume road standards subsequently helped to make sprawl ... today's default development option. New Urbanists are
providing leaders with tools (and more tools) to reverse course and strengthen the character, livability, and diversity of
their communities.
- Value [4] Connections
- Making Connections a Priority -- Through grids of streets, transportation choices, and the siting of buildings along the sidewalks
of compact blocks, New Urbanism brings destinations within reach and allows for frequent encounters between citizens, in sharp
contrast to sprawl. A key measure of connectivity is how accessible communities are to people with a range of physical abilities
and financial resources.
- Value [5] Shared Spaces
- Celebrating Shared Spaces -- New Urbanism makes shared space the organizing element of a community. Architecture physically
defines streets as places of shared use. Care for the public realm adds character, builds value, promotes security, and helps
residents feel proud of their community. Plazas, squares, sidewalks, cafes, and porches provide rich settings for interaction
and public life.
- Value [6] Sustainability
- Achieving Sustainability - From Building to Region -- By focusing development, New Urbanism promotes efficient use of infrastructure
and preservation of habitats and farmland. With green building leaders, CNU is establishing new standards for green design
at the neighborhood scale. Transportation plays a pivotal role in sustainability and truly efficient transportation - walking,
bicycling, and transit use - is only possible where there is compact, urban form.
- Value [7] Reclamation
- Reclaiming Urban Places Once Thought Lost -- New Urbanism is repairing the damage done to our cities through environmental
degradation, misguided infrastructure projects and designs that isolated the poor. Through the federal Hope VI program, New
Urbanism has transformed deteriorating public housing into livable mixed-income neighborhoods. And in numerous cities, CNU
is helping to replace blighting freeways with neighborhood-friendly boulevards.
- Value [8] Renewal
- Renewing a Ravaged Region -- Since the historic October 2005 Mississippi Renewal Forum, CNU members have led planning efforts
along the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast, including in New Orleans. Master plans, form-based codes, and transportation designs
are helping citizens and their leaders forge collaborative visions, while Katrina Cottages have emerged as a new model for
affordable emergency housing of enduring quality.
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