Sunday, December 30, 2012 A special opportunity is presented with the one square mile geographical land pattern laid on western land and characterizing the Phoenix area. The pattern already defines the region-wide network of arterial roads. It also creates the square mile sites where the beneficial qualities of historic villages can be incorporated into contemporary neighborhoods. The special opportunity exists for creating viable neighborhoods, putting together land uses and circulation patterns to provide better, more livable and sustainable communities. Important as they are, a mere listing of these elements, as if they were isolated objectives is not enough. Variety of housing, 1/2 mile access to neighborhood centers, biking and walking facilities, parks convenient to residents, safe routes to school, etc., are valuable ideas, but meaningless unless a model of what designed neighborhood environment facilitates theme is conceptualized and articulated. Soon this region will once again be building upwards of 30,000 homes a year. Shaping these homes into true functioning neighborhoods should be a high priority. Three thousand homes in each square mile should offer the density that developers might accept as reasonable, and would provide the critical mass necessary for a viably function-able neighborhood. What should this neighborhood be? Begin by shaping the land use in this square mile around a centrally positioned neighborhood center with its elementary school, a central park, convenient services--food, recreation, eating, socialization. Then, around the center, place a ring of higher density housing averaging 8 dwellings per acre--townhouses, patio homes, multifamily--putting |
|||||
