New Urbanism differs considerably from poorly-planned growth or sprawl:

New Urbanism

Sprawl
  • Narrow streets are laid out in a compact grid network with sidewalks. Developments connect well with surrounding neighborhoods and towns, reducing traffic.
  • Streets follow irregular patterns that funnel traffic on to main arteries and create bottlenecks. Few connections between housing developments and town centers encourages more driving.
  • Integrated mixed-use development that includes different types of housing, offices, and shops.
  • Homes, shops, office, and civic areas are widely separated and people depend on cars to get from one to another.
  • Neighborhoods have centers that are an easy and safe walk from all homes in the neighborhood. Residents do not have to cross highways or high-speed traffic when biking or walking from their homes to get to the town center.
  • Development lacks a coherent town center, can be unsafe for pedestrians and bikers, and forces individuals to drive for their daily commute and for errands.
  • Buildings are designed to make streets feel safe and inviting. Homes have front doors, porches, and windows that face the street, instead of just garage doors.
  • Homes are often identical and set back from wide streets, creating a sense of anonymity and disconnection from the rest of the community.


Back to New Urbanism main page
To Land Use main page