New Urbanism for Small Suburban Shopping Centers-A Bad Idea

New Urbanism (NU), a component of Smart Growth, has been the mantra of choice for local governments nationwide for more than a decade. Originally developed by progressive architects and planners reacting to perceived housing sprawl, the elements comprising NU include mixed-use communities with walkability within and between employment, housing, shopping, entertainment, and nearby public transportation. Eschewing “big-box” unarticulated buildings, NU attempts to create “human scale” buildings catering to the nearby resident and worker. The purported benefits of NU include reductions in traffic congestion, air pollution, fuel consumption, and obesity; walkability is a key component of NU.

This paper shall challenge the viability of these elements of NU as they relate to the creation and success of small neighborhood shopping centers serving primarily residents and employees within walking distance.

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