Stated Preference for Pedestrian Proximity: An Assessment of New Urbanist Sense of Community

Abstract

New urbanist sociospatial reforms, like previ ous urban planning and design syntheses such as the superblock, rely on the assumption that the physical design of communities results in social sense of community. New urbanism's sense of community relies on developing pe destrian-friendly neighborhoods and assumes that suburbanites are so deprived of physical sense of community that they would gladly trade-off the lot size found in ordinary subur bia for pedestrian proximity to shared neigh borhood amenities. Using a consumer-attitude survey of Floridians, this work investigates the likelihood that individuals would exchange a large yard for pedestrian proximity to five community amenities The analysis finds contradicting evidence for new urbanist as sumptions about suburban preferences, but also finds some groups favorably responding to the trade-offs. The paper ends with a dis cussion of implications of findings and needs for future research.

What will the neighbors think? Cultural norms and ecological design

“…Homeowners' choices are driven in part by preferences for landscape and open space amenities (Davis et al, 1994;Fernandez et al, 2005), and homeowners with the largest residential lots (larger than 2 acres) may be less willing to trade-off large lots for other desirable characteristics (Audirac, 1999).…”

The social goals of new urbanism

“…It is hoped that this will help move the discussion of the relationship between physical planning and social goals further ahead. It is also hoped that a discussion of New Urbanism's social goals will progress beyond simple dismissal based on perceived social engineering (a critique to which it is regularly subjected; see Harvey 1997 andAudirac 1999).…”

Urban density after Jane Jacobs: the crucial role of diversity and emergence

“…For attempts to test certain New Urbanists' assumptions, see for instance Audirac (1999), Cabrera and Najaran (2013) and Jabareen and Zilberman (2016). 14 On this point see also Cozzolino (2015).…”