emerging trends in urban and rural community forms n new towns as intentional communities n the...

Emerging Trends in Urban and Emerging Trends in Urban and Rural Community FormsRural Community Forms

New towns as Intentional CommunitiesNew towns as Intentional Communities The concept of building intentional The concept of building intentional

communities is very old -- Utopian Planscommunities is very old -- Utopian Plans– Plato’s Republic (375 B.C.)Plato’s Republic (375 B.C.)– Thomas More’s (Utopia 1516) represents the Thomas More’s (Utopia 1516) represents the

perfect social and economic societyperfect social and economic society– Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis (1627)Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis (1627)– B.F. Skinner’s Walden II (1948) B.F. Skinner’s Walden II (1948)

Two Early American Utopian Two Early American Utopian Communities--Shakers & OneidaCommunities--Shakers & Oneida

Longest survived utopian community in the Longest survived utopian community in the U.S. -- First founded in 1787 and the final U.S. -- First founded in 1787 and the final Shaker died in 1980sShaker died in 1980s

Founded by “Mother” Ann Lee who was Founded by “Mother” Ann Lee who was thought to be the second coming of Christ thought to be the second coming of Christ and women were in charge of the and women were in charge of the community and sex roles were unimportantcommunity and sex roles were unimportant

lived jointly but celibatelived jointly but celibate


The “perfectionists” founded a community The “perfectionists” founded a community in Oneida NY, led by John Noyes in 1848in Oneida NY, led by John Noyes in 1848

They believed that the second coming of They believed that the second coming of Christ had occurred and society was Christ had occurred and society was evolving to a perfect state -- to be evolving to a perfect state -- to be accomplished in Oneidaaccomplished in Oneida

They practiced “complex marriage” and all They practiced “complex marriage” and all lived togetherlived together


They were prosperous economically--moving They were prosperous economically--moving into small manufacturing--especially steel trapsinto small manufacturing--especially steel traps

Non-members in surrounding communities were Non-members in surrounding communities were outraged by free love practicesoutraged by free love practices

In 1879 Noyes escaped to Canada to avoid arrestIn 1879 Noyes escaped to Canada to avoid arrest The community reformed in 1881 as a joint-The community reformed in 1881 as a joint-

stock corporation and is now the largest stock corporation and is now the largest producer of stainless steel flatware in the U.S.producer of stainless steel flatware in the U.S.

New Towns: Garden Cities New Towns: Garden Cities

Ebenezer Howard Garden Cities of Tomorrow (1898) Ebenezer Howard Garden Cities of Tomorrow (1898) fully planned in all aspects--with a central garden-parkfully planned in all aspects--with a central garden-park limited population (about 32,000) limited population (about 32,000) The city is surrounded by an agricultural green beltThe city is surrounded by an agricultural green belt Garden cities could not expand at it’s edges, instead a Garden cities could not expand at it’s edges, instead a

new city would be builtnew city would be built Greenbelt, MD; Radburn, NJ; Letchworth, Greenbelt, MD; Radburn, NJ; Letchworth,

U.K.;Wyomissing, PAU.K.;Wyomissing, PA

The Evolution of Garden Cities: The Evolution of Garden Cities: The New Town MovementThe New Town Movement

New Town movement began after World New Town movement began after World War II to relieve overcrowding in English War II to relieve overcrowding in English cities and house returning U.S. soldierscities and house returning U.S. soldiers

The main points of the New Town The main points of the New Town movement are summarized as followsmovement are summarized as follows– Predetermined population size -- 32,000 of Predetermined population size -- 32,000 of

garden cities would be o the low end, most garden cities would be o the low end, most being around 60,000being around 60,000


The main points of the New Town movement are The main points of the New Town movement are summarized as followssummarized as follows– Fully planned and under single ownership -- at least during Fully planned and under single ownership -- at least during

development, the plan includes location of activities, development, the plan includes location of activities, parks, and open spaces.parks, and open spaces.

– Self-Contained and autonomous -- new towns contain a Self-Contained and autonomous -- new towns contain a complete range of retail, professional, educational, complete range of retail, professional, educational, cultural, and recreational servicescultural, and recreational services

– Diverse and balanced population -- because of the self-Diverse and balanced population -- because of the self-contained economy residents with diverse occupations contained economy residents with diverse occupations would be needed to be self-sufficient -- mix SES housing would be needed to be self-sufficient -- mix SES housing areasareas


New Towns in America tend to follow all the New Towns in America tend to follow all the guidelines except self-sufficiency and guidelines except self-sufficiency and maintaining a diverse and balanced populationmaintaining a diverse and balanced population

Burby and Weiss in 1976 conducted a study Burby and Weiss in 1976 conducted a study evaluating the success of new townsevaluating the success of new towns– people like living in new townspeople like living in new towns– the town’s design the town’s design does notdoes not have an impact on social have an impact on social

interactioninteraction– None are self-contained and autonomous and most None are self-contained and autonomous and most

fall down on diversity issuesfall down on diversity issues

Examples of New Towns: Examples of New Towns: Columbia, MD & Sun City, AZColumbia, MD & Sun City, AZ

Columbia is located between D.C. and Columbia is located between D.C. and Baltimore, MD and was planned by Developer Baltimore, MD and was planned by Developer James RouseJames Rouse– 21 square miles and currently has 120,000 residents21 square miles and currently has 120,000 residents– well-planned open spaces, scenic views of woods, well-planned open spaces, scenic views of woods,

hills, and fieldshills, and fields– Strict building codes and zoning for multiple-Strict building codes and zoning for multiple-

mixed land usemixed land use– Rouse remains in control of all commercial spaceRouse remains in control of all commercial space


Sun City, AZ is located southern ArizonaSun City, AZ is located southern Arizona Developed by the late Del Webb in 1960 and Developed by the late Del Webb in 1960 and

is an exclusive and famous retirement is an exclusive and famous retirement communitycommunity

Webb took the new town principle and Webb took the new town principle and applied exclusively to retirees -- which applied exclusively to retirees -- which violates the principles of diverse populationviolates the principles of diverse population


By catering to elders Webb’s community as a By catering to elders Webb’s community as a profit making venture has many advantagesprofit making venture has many advantages– does not have to worry about job opportunitiesdoes not have to worry about job opportunities– transportation corridors to outside the community transportation corridors to outside the community

are not important are not important – can locate in the middle of nowhere for cheap landcan locate in the middle of nowhere for cheap land– no need for educational and recreational facilities no need for educational and recreational facilities

for young peoplefor young people


Has a stadium for Milwaukee Brewers spring Has a stadium for Milwaukee Brewers spring trainingtraining

Six shopping centersSix shopping centers 26 churches26 churches two private country clubs two private country clubs 260 bed hospital, 60,000 square feet medical arts 260 bed hospital, 60,000 square feet medical arts

centercenter Many motels and restaurantsMany motels and restaurants Residents tend to go north for the summerResidents tend to go north for the summer

Current Trends That Impact Current Trends That Impact Community DevelopmentCommunity Development

Changes in manufacturing will continueChanges in manufacturing will continue American Cities, especially in the South and American Cities, especially in the South and

West will continue to decentralizeWest will continue to decentralize ““I worry that my country is becoming a loose I worry that my country is becoming a loose

confederation of shopping centers.” Pierre confederation of shopping centers.” Pierre TrudeauTrudeau

Of the fifty fastest growing counties in the Of the fifty fastest growing counties in the U.S., twelve are in the state of FloridaU.S., twelve are in the state of Florida


The major trend of the previous century, The major trend of the previous century, rural to urban migration is slowing and may rural to urban migration is slowing and may reverse in the near future (it had reversed for reverse in the near future (it had reversed for a few years)a few years)

Decentralization offers enormous opportunity Decentralization offers enormous opportunity for good, reshaping the way we livefor good, reshaping the way we live– but, we cannot forget the people that remain in but, we cannot forget the people that remain in

the urban core and rural hinterlandthe urban core and rural hinterland


Most of us do not concern ourselves with the Most of us do not concern ourselves with the shape of cities but cities begin to shape usshape of cities but cities begin to shape us– our culture does not value cities -- we have an anti-our culture does not value cities -- we have an anti-

city bias city bias – people tend to want to live in the suburbs where people tend to want to live in the suburbs where

there is spacethere is space– when people disperse traffic and the impact on the when people disperse traffic and the impact on the

environment become issuesenvironment become issues– We compete for space and time and with each We compete for space and time and with each

other and with products of our cultureother and with products of our culture


New cities are not attractive because of New cities are not attractive because of cosmopolitan lifestyle but their access to cosmopolitan lifestyle but their access to natural resources (Tampa, Miami, natural resources (Tampa, Miami, Knoxville, Denver, Tucson)Knoxville, Denver, Tucson)

New cities tend to be poly-nucleated with New cities tend to be poly-nucleated with giant regional malls often serving as the hub giant regional malls often serving as the hub of the communityof the community


Old cities tended to be organized for production, Old cities tended to be organized for production, now there is an emphasis on consumptionnow there is an emphasis on consumption

Less corporate identity among workers and more Less corporate identity among workers and more emphasis on where you live and how you emphasis on where you live and how you recreaterecreate

New towns have citizen-controlled private New towns have citizen-controlled private governance that are in some ways more powerful governance that are in some ways more powerful than local governmentthan local government


Household size is getting smaller, from 4.6 Household size is getting smaller, from 4.6 in 1970 to 2.3 in 1990in 1970 to 2.3 in 1990

condominiums and smaller houses are now condominiums and smaller houses are now growing faster than traditional 3/2 housesgrowing faster than traditional 3/2 houses

Euclidian zoning is being transformed into Euclidian zoning is being transformed into mixed-use zoningmixed-use zoning

new housing developments blur legal new housing developments blur legal definitions of renting and owningdefinitions of renting and owning


Patron Saint of current New Towns is Walt Patron Saint of current New Towns is Walt DisneyDisney– Use of illusions and psychological packaging of Use of illusions and psychological packaging of

main streets that might never actually existedmain streets that might never actually existed– Packaging becomes really important, many Packaging becomes really important, many

places are organized around communal space places are organized around communal space but careful not to sell the point too much -- but careful not to sell the point too much -- people when oversold generally say “ I just people when oversold generally say “ I just want to be left alone ”want to be left alone ”


Developers try to create a theme that evokes Developers try to create a theme that evokes nostalgia and nature from an actually or nostalgia and nature from an actually or made up story line -- people tend to buy made up story line -- people tend to buy into the mythinto the myth

Developers create themed villages within a Developers create themed villages within a larger development -- targeting different larger development -- targeting different demographics and separating by SESdemographics and separating by SES


The single-interest developments is a The single-interest developments is a growing phenomenongrowing phenomenon– golfgolf– singlessingles– country clubcountry club– retirementretirement– equestrianequestrian– nudist lifestylenudist lifestyle


Golden-Age GhettosGolden-Age Ghettos– age restrictionsage restrictions– children are not welcomechildren are not welcome– condos -- self contained -- do not have to leave condos -- self contained -- do not have to leave

compound compound – keep out others in communitykeep out others in community– often have progressive care/living arrangementsoften have progressive care/living arrangements


Bunker Sweet BunkerBunker Sweet Bunker– gated communities sell securitygated communities sell security– especially marketed to eldersespecially marketed to elders– local volunteer crime watchlocal volunteer crime watch– Quayside in Miami-Dade is on it’s own island Quayside in Miami-Dade is on it’s own island

across from Bal Harbouracross from Bal Harbour» laser beams circle the perimeter (even over water)laser beams circle the perimeter (even over water)

» everyone enters a central checkpointeveryone enters a central checkpoint

» constant video survelienceconstant video survelience

emerging trends in urban and rural community forms n new towns as intentional communities n the...

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