We've forgotten that walking to most of the places you needed to go used to be more common. We're rediscovering the importance of walkability and community. Unfortunately, many of the best known examples of New Urbanism are very expensive places to live. Everyone should have an opportunity to move into a liveable neighbourhood with a functioning community. And we know how to design and build them. What's lacking is the political will and support. In New Zealand (where I live) there is still an attachment to the 'quarter acre pavlova paradise' — a detached, single family home on fairly large plot of land. Moves by the central government to encourage and facilitate medium rise, medium density neighbourhoods (think of the West end of Vancouver, or the older streets on central Montreal) have met with a lot resistance from established (usually older) home-owners.
We've forgotten that walking to most of the places you needed to go used to be more common. We're rediscovering the importance of walkability and community. Unfortunately, many of the best known examples of New Urbanism are very expensive places to live. Everyone should have an opportunity to move into a liveable neighbourhood with a functioning community. And we know how to design and build them. What's lacking is the political will and support. In New Zealand (where I live) there is still an attachment to the 'quarter acre pavlova paradise' — a detached, single family home on fairly large plot of land. Moves by the central government to encourage and facilitate medium rise, medium density neighbourhoods (think of the West end of Vancouver, or the older streets on central Montreal) have met with a lot resistance from established (usually older) home-owners.
What a beautiful story!