Supporting New Urbanism and the Question of Moving

Welcome back!

So let’s say you live in one of those cul-de-sacs that are such a no-no in the new urbanism movement. Does that mean you have to consider moving to practice what you preach as a new urbanism convert?

Of course not. While a McMansion on a cul-de-sac doesn’t appeal to me anyhow, personally I would love to move to one of the newer new urbanism developments in my community because I love the neighborhood design, the small but stylish homes and I have friends there.

I won’t be moving though because where I live allows me to conserve energy and spend less!

I’m in one of those small, post-war homes that was thankfully built near a nature conservation area, our town’s Main St., amazing libraries and museums and excellent public transportation. Looking at all those benefits helps me to keep a level head about moving.

That’s a good thing since the temptation is always there – after all I put out the Top Ten New Urbanism Communities list every year and the research involved in creating that list has me submersed in the details and attributes of some of the most attractive and affordable new urbanism communities in all the locations we would consider moving to (both in the U.S. and Canada).

Overall I think that’s a good thing. It’s an indication that more and more builders are building quality, affordable homes that regular families like ours can afford.

So keep a level head about new urbanism. Don’t feel you have to move to embrace the ideals of this movement. If you were planning on moving anyhow, then yes this is a great time to consider your options of moving to a city or a new urbanism development that embraces the close knit community feel of traditional neighborhood designs.

But if moving isn’t on your agenda, some of the more important questions to ask are:

• Can I use public transportation more?
• Can I buy more of our food, clothing and housewares from  local vendors and producers?
• Can I lobby or work with community leaders to ensure that there are resources and infrastructures in place to support work-at-home-opportunities and attract more businesses to my town?

3-Minute Video about New Urbanism

New urbanism is one of those concepts that can be difficult to grasp. It’s a term that’s not part of our daily conversation, yet its meaning is very much a part of what most people engage in every day.

If you go to work or are looking for work that you can afford to get to every day, you’re involved in new urbanism.

If you worry about the safety of your community, activity options for you, your kids, your family, recycling and other green living initiatives – you’re thinking about new urbanism.

I just came upon the Congress of New Urbanism’s 2009 Video Award winner and that’s exactly what it is – a winning definition for “new urbanism:”

A New Generation Coming of Age

The 2008 U.S. Presidential election was the first opportunity my teen daughter had to exercise her right to vote.  She had been accompanying me to the voting booth since she was a toddler.  It was important for me to take her so that she could see me taking seriously my own to right to vote.

I don’t think during those early years she really understood the significance of going to our local school to fill in our ballots, but this year, her 18th year she not only understood it she really felt the power of her vote.

On November 4, when the new President-elect for the U.S. was announced I called her quickly on her cell phone.  There was pandemonium at her residence hall during the midnight hour of that unbelievable evening.

She quickly told me that there were hundreds and hundreds of students running and screaming with joy outside at the news that Sen. Barack Obama had been elected the next President of the United States.  At that moment she felt the importance and effect of the vote she had cast a few weeks ago.

What I took from her comments and the reactions of the thousands of students on her campus, not just on election night but in the weeks leading up to it, was that this generation of x Box users was coming of age.

I listened to conversations in my own children’s circles and I’ve read the commentary in media across the country and I have to say that I think this generation – the Millennials – believe that they can have an impact on the direction of their country and through their vote I’d say they did.

Of course not everyone voted for President-elect Obama and those 60 million votes for Sen. McCain are just as important in this process.  The good thing is those 60 million voters care about their country and the more important thing is that their concerns and priorities will be given every bit of consideration as those votes from the majority who elected Mr. Obama.

That’s the promise we got from both candidates and I look forward to seeing that realized.

Experiencing this election through the eyes of my daughter, for the first time ever, I find I’m fixated on how this election has served as a positive influence on the shaping of the mindset of this generation.

It feels like this is the first time, in a long time, that the election was more about the future of a united nation and less about the few special interests of the most powerful.  My daughter and her friends truly feel a sense of empowerment and I’m grateful for that.

I didn’t experience that sense of urgency and importance about my role in the world during my early years in college.  We were the generation that one professor called the most “self-centered” he’d ever seen (the greedy 80′s).  We cared about our marks and employment in hot centers of commerce. I’m generalizing but not overly so.

I do remember my friends and I feeling so disheartened at his statements, but at the same time we couldn’t help but to agree.  We just did not feel as impassioned about our impact on problems in the world as those who had come before us in the 70′s and 60′s.

Environmental advocacy, living a green lifestyle, revitalizing our urban cores, protecting pristine lands, local and international volunteer service and community building–these are just a few of the priorities that our young people feel passionate about today and that gives me such hope.

Here we have a generation showing signs that their not only ready but commited to addressing the multitude of challenges that we’ve left for them.  Maybe we (boomer/post boomer generation) did in fact do a few things right.

Tough Economy Threatens Growth of New Urban Shopping Centers

After decades of dealing with the blandness of indoor mall shopping, new urban developers found a way to bring the joy of city sidewalk shopping and strolling to the suburbs with the creation of “new urban shopping centers.”

Now further development of these shopping oases is being threatened because of the crumbling status of our economy and the impact this has had on developers needing bank financing for these expensive developments.

The new urban approach to development is in fact more expensive than typical developments and is more time consuming because of the legal issues and zoning details involved in building/redeveloping communities that have mixed uses (residential and commercial).

I hope we won’t see any regression in the progress we’ve made in building shopping destinations and neighborhoods for people vs. cars because of the state of the economy.

Here’s what one industry insider is saying (courtesy of cbc.ca):

North American developers will have to negotiate financial uncertainties if they want the mixed-use models to succeed, said Stephen Messinger, a senior partner with the commercial leasing group Minden Gross.

“It’s not the end,” he said, acknowledging nervous investors will likely be cautious given the tightening economy.

But he noted many municipalities continue to actively seek out these developments because of their functionality and design.

“In the end, if it gives consumers what they want, it could work out,” he said.

That last sentence caught my attention.

New urbanism is the new standard for community development. That is what consumers want.

As consumers we ought to be consistent and vocal in ensuring our cities, suburbs and towns know our preferences for healthy, green and sustainable communities – no matter the financial challenges before us. Considering what the alternative would cost to our lives and the environment this should be a non-negotiable stance.

This financial mess we’re in may end up being one test for determining just how rooted the new urban-green-living movement is in our society.

Top 10 New Urbanism Communities – Submit Now

If you’re a builder, developer, marketer, resident or other interested person or group representing a new urbanism community in the United States or Canada, and you’d like your community to be considered for inclusion in the annual New Urban Mom Top 10 New Urbanism Communities list, please provide the following information by July 22, 2008:

• Name of Community
• Website information
• Location (city and state/province)
• Price range of homes available for purchase
• Description of Housing styles available
• Information on rental properties available in your community
• Information on commercial development and services available in your community
• Indicate any building industry, municipal, design or other awards received by your community
• Contact information for buyers and renters (if applicable)

All information and questions can be sent to:

newurbanite@gmail.com

Once we receive all entries we’ll review and narrow down the the list to 10 communities.

We’re looking to build once a gain a list that offers the leading eco-friendly communities in America that are built on new urbanism principles.

This annual list is the resource for families and individuals looking to live in sustainable communities that can help to support their efforts to live a green lifestyle, do business close to home and be around individuals who share these values.

Squirrel Man’s Wife

My husband is following me on my journey to being green in our new urbanism community, but he is no treehugger…yet. That’s why I was excited (at least initially) with his developing interest in our “wild life.”

I don’t know if it has to do with hitting the big “40″ (a little while ago) but in recent years he’s taken a real liking to squirrels. I love animals but squirrels aren’t up on my list of wildlife I’d like to get closer to.

Case in point: Today he picked me up from my 2-day meeting in the city and surprised me with a decision to stop at our local market for some fresh items for lunch. I stayed in the car as I was exhausted. Then as I waited I hoped he would think to pick up some other grocery items that I know we were running low on at home.

That was wishful thinking. Unless we are specifically shopping for household groceries my husband can’t run into a store for one item and then change gears and pick up other things that might strike him as items that need to be replenished in our home – like toilet paper, milk, orange juice, cereal and fruit.

He’s a one track guy (personally I think this is a male gene thing – any guys reading this blog are free to argue with me in the comments below).

Anyhow, the point of this post is that not only did my husband not come out of the market with some useful household items instead of just some items for our Saturday lunch, but he bought an item that was for the consumption of someone other than his family or dog. He bought peanuts for his new found, wildlife friends – our backyard rodents squirrels.

They actually anticipate his return to the house. Just as we came up to the house two ran across the driveway. I thought I heard one squirrel say to the other:

“Big guy’s home Morton – go get the kids it’s lunch time.”

Now as I write this post, my husband is in the backyard on the bench under our maple tree with a glass of Chardonnay, and a bag of peanuts by his side.

He’s going to be one of those odd old men that the kids nickname “squirrel man.” YIKES – that makes me squirrel man’s wife.

Podcast Show #4 – Hot Tips for Green Living & Business Growth

Not quite sure how to adopt green living behaviors into your life? You’ll want to listen to today’s show for the introductory green living primer – a short and easy overview of some practices you can start making a part of your regular routine.

And for business owners: Growing your business 10 helpful tips.

Share your feedback on today’s show here in the comment section. Remember to let me know about any eco-friendly lawn and garden products you use or can recommend!

The weekly link love list:

SnugglesPodcast.com

The Cravings Coach

Internet Marketing Sweetie

New Urban Mom Entrepreneurs

I’d like you to meet Carrie Lauth (pictured here). Carrie is a natural living specialist and host of the popular internet radio program, Natural Moms Talk Radio. I posted about Carrie today because she’s written an exceptional business guide that I think many new urban moms will appreciate, especially if you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.

As a new urbanist, I’m so thankful be living in a town that makes it easy for me and my family to access natural products and services. I’ve already posted about our farmers’ markets that help urbanites like me to feast on the best regionally grown and developed produce and products. Deciding to buy food that is grown locally is gratifying because I know its good for my family and my community.

But for many savvy new urban moms and other women the desire to live green is about more than what we eat and buy it’s about how we work.

There are many women making the transition to working in the green or “natural business” economy by creating their own businesses. Examples abound and include writers, gardeners, lactation consultants, nutritionists, event organizers, marketers, researchers, natural cosmetic consultants, home decor consultants, caterers and many other specialists and experts who are part of the growing natural business sector. If this is something you’re thinking about then I think there’s a guide that you really ought to take some time to read.

The Natural Mom Business Guide is an exceptional resource that I read in one hungry sitting. If you’re ready for a practical, step-by-step business guide for setting up your natural family living business click here.