What is a New Town?
A New Town is a meticulously planned urban area built from scratch in a previously undeveloped rural, semi-rural, or low-density urban area. The objective is to create a balanced and self-sustaining community with residential spaces, commercial centers, employment opportunities, and social amenities. Unlike spontaneous urban sprawl, New Towns are developed under a comprehensive master plan to ensure organized growth and sustainable development, directing population and economic activities into designated zones.
Examples of New Towns
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Columbia, Maryland: Developed in the 1960s by developer James Rouse, Columbia is designed to enhance the quality of life for its residents and includes a mixture of housing types, vast open spaces, and numerous community services.
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Reston, Virginia: Initiated in the early 1960s by Robert E. Simon, Reston prioritizes balanced growth, wellness, and self-contained living. This New Town integrates all necessary amenities within clustered neighborhoods to limit urban sprawl.
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Brasilia, Brazil: The capital of Brazil, inaugurated in 1960, was a planned city to redistribute population and economic activities inland from coastal cities. It features unique modernist architecture and urban planning.
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Canberra, Australia: As the capital of Australia, Canberra was chosen in 1913 to resolve a political compromise. It was meticulously planned, focusing on aesthetic and functional design.
Frequently Asked Questions about New Towns
What are the main goals of developing New Towns?
The primary goals include redistributing population growth, alleviating urban congestion, promoting balanced regional development, and creating communities that offer a high quality of life preserved against unplanned urban sprawl.
How are New Towns funded?
New Towns can be funded through a mix of public and private investment. This could include federal government grants, state or local government financing, and private sector investments.
What are the benefits of New Towns?
Benefits include planned growth, balanced residential and commercial development, controlled environmental impact, creation of employment zones, and improvement in living standards through comprehensive urban amenities.
Are New Towns more sustainable than unplanned urban areas?
Yes, New Towns are generally more sustainable as their development involves careful planning related to infrastructure, transportation systems, green spaces, and resource management, which leads to efficient and liveable urban environments.
Can New Towns help mitigate urban sprawl?
New Towns are specifically designed to combat urban sprawl by developing self-contained communities with everything needed within close proximity, thereby reducing the necessity for long-distance commuting.
Related Terms
- Urban Planning: The process of designing and organizing a city’s infrastructure and services in a manner conducive to the well-being of its inhabitants.
- Mixed-Use Development: A type of urban development that blends residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or industrial uses, designed to attract population and improve the convenience for residents.
- Smart Growth: An approach to urban planning that focuses on sustainable and environmentally friendly development practices.
- Regional Development: Efforts to stimulate economic growth and improve quality of life in less-developed regions.
Online Resources
- American Planning Association: Provides resources and advocacy for urban planning.
- Urban Land Institute: Offers research and education related to sustainable urban development.
- Smart Growth America: Advocates for urban planning policies that promote sustainable growth.
References
- Hall, P. “Cities of Tomorrow: An Intellectual History of Urban Planning and Design in the Twentieth Century.” Wiley-Blackwell, 2014.
- Fishman, R. “Urban Utopias in the Twentieth Century: Ebenezer Howard, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier.” MIT Press, 1982.
- Calthorpe, P. “The Next American Metropolis: Ecology, Community, and the American Dream.” Princeton Architectural Press, 1993.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “Cities of Tomorrow” by Peter Hall
- “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” by Jane Jacobs
- “The Next American Metropolis” by Peter Calthorpe
- “Urban Land Use Planning” by Philip Berke, David Godschalk, and Edward Kaiser
- “Garden Cities of To-morrow” by Ebenezer Howard
