New Urbanism = Historic Urbanism

One of the development concepts that we have been doing a lot of research on is ‘new urbanism.’ We have been taking an interest to study successful historic downtown areas that have been restored to thriving city centers, as well as areas that are adopting the modern development model of new urbanism.

In essence – new urbanism is really historic urbanism. If you look at how city centers were established pre-1900 you will notice that almost all downtown areas were bustling economic centers with a high level of density. Looking further back in historical times to the towns across Europe you will find this urban model mimics itself over and over - - why… because it was a successful way to build new urban centers for commerce and ultimately sustainability.

The Main Street Program also closely mirrors the concept of new urbanism or historic urbanism as we prefer to call it. The Main Street Program deals specifically with the rejuvenation of the economic component of a city center revitalization. Additionally, the Main Street principles that support the ‘livability’ of a city center are in concert with the ‘urbanism’ approach.

Following you will find the 10 Principles of New Urbanism taken from the http://www.newurbanism.org web site. In reading them you will see how closely they reflect the city scape of Centralia, WA and many other historic downtowns. The key to the success of this model is the economic revitalization that will occur as more people move into the downtown core and see the viability of living there and creating an enjoyable life in the city center.

As you read through these principles, consider what Centralia, WA USED to be - - can you see how the revitalization process can restore the city center to the vital and economically robust community that it used to be? We CAN, and that is why our investment dollars are hard at work rehabilitating the famous Historic Wilson Hotel in the heart of the historic district of Hub City!

The revitalization of Hub City will ultimately be the restoration of historic urbanism in Centralia.

Here are the 10 New Urbanism Principles:

1. Walkability

-Most things within a 10-minute walk of home and work
-Pedestrian friendly street design (buildings close to street; porches, windows & doors; tree-lined streets; on street parking; hidden parking lots; garages in rear lane; narrow, slow speed streets)
-Pedestrian streets free of cars in special cases

2. Connectivity
-Interconnected street grid network disperses traffic & eases walking
-A hierarchy of narrow streets, boulevards, and alleys
-High quality pedestrian network and public realm makes walking pleasurable

3. Mixed-Use & Diversity
-A mix of shops, offices, apartments, and homes on site. Mixed-use within neighborhoods, within blocks, and within buildings
-Diversity of people - of ages, income levels, cultures, and races

4. Mixed Housing
A range of types, sizes and prices in closer proximity

5. Quality Architecture & Urban Design
Emphasis on beauty, aesthetics, human comfort, and creating a sense of place; Special placement of civic uses and sites within community. Human scale architecture & beautiful surroundings nourish the human spirit.

6. Traditional Neighborhood Structure
-Discernable center and edge
-Public space at center
-Importance of quality public realm; public open space designed as civic art
-Contains a range of uses and densities within 10-minute walk
-Transect planning: Highest densities at town center; progressively less dense towards the edge. The transect is an analytical system that conceptualizes mutually reinforcing elements, creating a series of specific natural habitats and/or urban lifestyle settings. The Transect integrates environmental methodology for habitat assessment with zoning methodology for community design. The professional boundary between the natural and man-made disappears, enabling environmentalists to assess the design of the human habitat and the urbanists to support the viability of nature. This urban-to-rural transect hierarchy has appropriate building and street types for each area along the continuum.

7. Increased Density
-More buildings, residences, shops, and services closer together for ease of walking, to enable a more efficient use of services and resources, and to create a more convenient, enjoyable place to live.
-New Urbanism design principles are applied at the full range of densities from small towns, to large cities

8. Smart Transportation
-A network of high-quality trains connecting cities, towns, and neighborhoods together
-Pedestrian-friendly design that encourages a greater use of bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, and walking as daily transportation

9. Sustainability
-Minimal environmental impact of development and its operations
-Eco-friendly technologies, respect for ecology and value of natural systems
-Energy efficiency
-Less use of finite fuels
-More local production
-More walking, less driving

10. Quality of Life
Taken together these add up to a high quality of life well worth living, and create places that enrich, uplift, and inspire the human spirit.