An Evaluation of Neotraditional Design's Social Prescription: Postmodern Placebo or Remedy for Suburban Malaise?

Abstract

Among the various American postmodern urban design schemes which offer pedestrian propinquity as design synthesis and remedy for suburban malaise, traditional neighbor hood design (TND) bears the influence of Leon Krier's architectural determinism. This paper claims that social consequences axiomatic to TND principles are problematic given previous experiences with planned communities and neighborhood research. In light of this literature and observations made at Seaside, Florida—the prototypic example of the TND movement—this paper concludes that developments which attempt to adapt TND elements to the realities of modern lifesryles and a metropolitan context will further test TND assumptions and result in compromises necessary for the evolution of the paradigm.

A comprehensive analysis of built environment characteristics on household residential choice and auto ownership levels

“…On the one side of the debate, proponents of the new urbanism and smart growth concepts claim that the association between the built environment and travel behavior represents a causal effect, and is of a sufficient enough magnitude to lead to tangible reductions in motorized vehicle use. In addition, according to these proponents, car dependence-reducing BE strategies will also lead to friendlier, and socially Further, opponents indicate that the increasingly isolated and auto-dependent orientation of the population is simply a manifestation of demographic shifts and lifestyle preferences, rather than any consequence of BE designs that do not subscribe to smart growth and new urbanism concepts (see Audirac and Shermyen, 1994;Guiliano, 1995;and Gordon and Richardson, 1997).…”

Retail land use, neighborhood satisfaction and the urban forest: an investigation into the moderating and mediating effects of trees and shrubs

“…Among prescriptions for better community design is the expectation that mixed land uses combined with walkable distances from residences to commercial nodes will reduce automobile use and infrastructure costs, while increasing social interactions (Achimore, 1993;Audirac and Shermyen, 1994;Calthorpe, 1993). They advocate a more "traditional" neighborhood structure (pre-World War II) that is believed to support a greater sense of community and therefore, a better quality of life.…”

Do children walk where they bike? Exploring built environment correlates of children's walking and bicycling

“…The motivations behind this field include health and environmental concerns about physical inactivity and chronic diseases, on the one hand, and high car-dependency and traffic-related pollution, on the other. Correspondingly, the need to reclaim urban space for pedestrians and bicyclists led to the development of various planning approaches, such as: "Healthy-Active City" (Edwards and Tsouros 2008), "Smart Growth" (Frumkin, Frank, and Jackson 2004), "Transit Oriented Development" (TOD) (Cervero 1998), and "New Urbanism" (Duany and Plater-Zyberk 1992;Calthorpe 1993;Audirac and Shermyen 1994). All of the aforementioned planning approaches seek to adjust and adapt the physical urban environment to promote and enhance walking, bicycling, and other modes of non-motorized transportation.…”