Allison Landa is a contributor to Real Estate Southern California, from which this article was excerpted.
New Urbanism, which is heralded by many as a model for future design, is entering a dynamic period of change, growth and debate. "New Urbanism is gaining momentum," says Elizabeth Watson, who practices land-use law at the Los Angeles firm Greenberg Glusker. "Whether you call it New Urbanism or smart growth or sustainability, it's really all about good planning."
Though a good part of New Urbanism deals with accessibility, convenience and community, the movement is now spending more time than ever focusing on design, layout and architecture.
"The current model [of New Urbanism] really has as much to do with higher home prices, commutes that are taking longer, rising gas prices, the recognition that there is global warming and the fact that the buildings we build represent a real contributor to that," Watson says. "It's really a shift from a suburban model to an urban model."
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