Future Cities and Neighborhoods to ‘Evolve’ Backwards?
What was old is new again. Have you heard this before? Perhaps but now more than ever residential construction is headed towards re-development and in-fill propositions. Change from the past 17 years or so building boom is welcome for some. Maybe now we will see less cornfields go the way of the Randall Road corridor to more concentrated, shall I dare say “more dense”, “urban style” developments? Out here in Crystal Lake, the words “urban” and “density” conjure up images of Chicago, city blight and crime.
- The “New” Old House of the Future?
I however, feel that these concepts are crucial to the health and vibrancy of any community, here or in Cornville, Illinois. I’m not suggesting that we see mid-rise condo buildings downtown near Georgio’s or new zoning for 25′ by 125′ lots that are common in Chicago. No, I’m simply suggesting that there are better ways to land plan than what we have seen in the past. Many point to developers for the current layout and look of our newer communities. The truth is it is far more complicated than that (Aren’t most issues more complicated with many, sometimes unintended participants?). The players include existing neighbors and neighborhoods, the consumer, local government officials, politicians, engineers and developers all had a hand in our current car-centric, sprawl-fueled community developments.
As we catch our breath from the last “boom”, during this “bust” we can re-evaluate our past mistakes and look to more logical ways to grow our future communities and re-develop our existing ones. Transit oriented, smaller homes on smaller lots is undoubtably the future of our company and we feel the industry. Take a look at how some developers and land planners are tackling these issues in January 2009 Green Builder Magazine.