WHAT TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT MEANS TO YOU

Imagine, if you will, a place where you live, dine, work, shop and play all in one place. You walk out of your front door, cross the street to meet a neighbor; and together you walk down to the café for an espresso. How wonderful would it be to go out of your home with your dog, and walk just a short way to a nature trail where you enjoy the sounds of the season without the noise of a crowded, busy street? How great would it be to walk to your church of choice, your school or your favorite bookstore? Now you’ve got the idea in your head. This is something special. This is Traditional Neighborhood Development.

HISTORY OF TNDs

Modern Town Planning, Traditional Neighborhood Development, Modern Urbanism, and Traditional Architecture are all terms used to describe a growing trend in residential development. This trend that emphasis on building a community instead of cookie-cutter residential developmenst miles away from cookie-cutter retail malls.

TNDs, as we like to call them, are closer together than typical residential developments. They contain many of the things you are looking for all within a "walkable", space-friendly area. Shops and residences are connected by landscaped walkways, or small streets geared towards pedestrians rather than automobiles.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES TNDs DIFFERENT FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS?

Let’s take a moment to contrast Traditional Neighborhood Development against what is seen as typical suburbia.

Typical suburbs are comprised of a series of houses all in a row, usually with a street between and an alley behind. These suburbs are sometimes surrounded by a gate, or a stone wall separating them from a major road or highway. The houses tend to be similar in design, and removed from retail areas or office spaces. In essence, if you want to go out of your home, you need to exit the neighborhood by automobile. Many suburbanites drive several miles to gyms, retail shops, and restaurants. Often, living in a typical suburban neighborhood means you spend all of your time inside your home or inside your car.

Traditional Neighborhood Developments, however, are much different. TNDs are not enclosed by a gate or fence. Instead, they tend to use natural environments as separators: such as trees and bushes. TNDs are also complete communities. This means residents are not forced to get in a car and leave the area in order to go shopping, meet friends, or even exercise. TNDs are developed with the idea that you can live, eat, exercise, and shop all in one place without having to go outside your community. This kind of atmosphere allows for a more traditional or old-fashioned type of neighborhood. People living together in a TND can walk their dogs along nature trails, work at a nearby office complex, shop at a local florist, grab a bite of food at the local restaurant, or even get their nails done—all within the community, and all within walking distance.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT?

One very simple benefit is that TNDs are assured to increase in value faster than typical suburban developments. This is because the entire community is designed to feel better, and is often managed as a whole. The design standards ensure quality and aesthetics that last through the tests of time. The integration of parks, green space and connectivity add value unmatched by typical suburbs.

Another advantage is you save money by not having to hop in your car for every little thing. If you want to exercise, there may be a gym inside your community, or a nature/bike trail, or a swimming pool. Or if you just want to buy a gallon of milk, you don’t have to get your keys and drive five or ten miles to a major convenience store. You can simply pop down the block to the convenience store.

TNDs are healthier! In a time when America is battling heart disease, cancer and obesity, people are looking for ways to fit exercise into their busy schedules. Something as simple as walking to the store can have a dramatic impact on the quality of your life. Think of how easy it would be to exercise if you could walk to your gym, or even walk along a hiking trail that was literally right behind your home. In this way, TNDs can benefit your health, your attitude and the health of your family.

ARE THERE EXAMPLES OF TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENTS?

Yes, there are lots of examples. One of the most famous is Prince Charles’ project Poundbury Dorchester Dorset. Perhaps you’ve heard about his work on your local PBS station, but Prince Charles, the Prince of Whales, began constructing his mixed urban development of town homes, cottages and shops with architect Leon Krier. Together they constructed what has become the model for modern urban planning.

Celebration, Florida in Osceola County is another example. Celebration was developed by The Walt Disney Company. Inside Celebrity are several churches, a variety of community organizations, a golf course, parks, a fire department, post office, schools and a hospital.

Arverne By the Sea in New York City is a great example. These homes are near the beach, and still close to one of the world’s most famous cities. Arverne By the Sea offers shopping, a YMCA, beaches, and a future retail transit that will take you to Manhattan.

Austin Ranch Billingsley Company’s development in The Colony, TX. At Austin Ranch you can live in an apartment community, a single-family home, or one of our town homes at Austin Waters or Austin Square. Austin Ranch borders a nature preserve with hiking and bike trails, a retail center, restaurants, fitness center, and six resort-style swimming pools with even more development planned for the future.

Other examples include: Battery Park—New York, NY Union Park7—Las Vegas, NV Village Garden—Lincoln, NB Georgetown—Georgetown, CT

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