 
n authentic Neighborhood
will include most of the
following:
Walkable and Compact:
1. Destination walking, not just recreation walking — look for the Neighborhood to have a discernible center. This is often a square or green, and frequently includes a busy or memorable street intersection. A transit stop would be located here.
2. Most of the dwellings are within a five-minute walk of the village center, a distance averaging one-quarter of a mile.
3. Expect walking paths throughout and small playgrounds within two-three blocks of every home.
Multi-Generational, Lifelong Communities,
and Mixed-income choices:
4. Notice a variety of dwelling types within the Neighborhood. These usually take the form of mansions, houses, townhouses, apartments, and group homes such that younger and older people, singles and families, and all income levels may find homes here.
5. A small ancillary building is permitted within the backyard of each home, offering flexibility for homeowners who may rent it, or use it as a work space.
Mixed-use and Mixed-prices:
6. A variety of shops and offices at the edge of the Neighborhood are encouraged. A convenience/corner store is most important, as is enough variety to supply weekly household necessities.
Connected, and Multimodal
7. You will find streets within the Neighborhood are a connected network, providing a variety of itineraries and dispersing traffic congestion.
8. Streets are relatively narrow and shaded by rows of trees, slowing down the traffic, and creating an appealing environment for cars, smart carts, pedestrians, strollers and bicycles as well as multiple access points for EMS.
The community scale is people-centric - not auto-centric:
9. Because buildings at the Neighborhood center are placed close to the street, a strong sense of place and community is allowed to flourish. Cozy front porches, sidewalk dining, and families walking together add to the sense of security and help forge friendships.
10. Forget parking lots and garage doors that front the streets. These are purposefully placed at the rear of buildings, and accessed by alleys.
Civic and Institutional uses and functions are embedded in the neighborhood.
11. Make sure there is an elementary school no more than one mile away, so that most children can walk from home.
12. New Urban design calls for certain prominent sites to be reserved for civic buildings for meetings, including educational, religious or cultural activities. Find them located at the termination of street vistas or at the Neighborhood center.
13. You want the Neighborhood organized to be self-governing. You will join neighbors in a formal association to debate and decide on matters of maintenance, security and physical change (but not on taxation which should be the responsibility of the larger community).
Sustainable and Ecological:
14. The neighborhood design and development supports sustainable practices by applying the principles listed above.
15. In addition the neighborhood addresses the stewardship of the land, water, food, shelter and energy by engaging infrastructure, urban design, architecture, landscape design, construction practice and resource conservation.
Thomas E. Low
AIA CNU LEED AICP ASLA
Partner, Director of Town Planning
DPZ Charlotte Architects and Town Planners
Charlotte | North Carolina
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