Old Urbanism was built around the idea that people would be walking. Between the narrow streets and the local commercial area, folks were able to walk or ride in streetcars. Old Urbanism worked very well even without zoning regulations until the automobile became so popular.
Today New Urbanism is similar to the old view where walking is the central focus and mode of transportation. In addition New Urbanists are also concerned about the culture and function of urban areas, over the overall look or style of urban areas. Their big push for health and being environmentally aware are the principles they claimed will make life more fulfilling. The New Urbanists movement proposes to reduce the size of structures, which in turn, uses less materials and resources. With less interior space, individuals are forced to spend more time outdoors and interact with their community.
Today some of their big campaigns push renewable energy, electronic transportation and “retooling” current industries to create a greener, more efficient society (New Deal 2009, 2011). The “Retool America” campaign is a plan that will solve many to our current problems (New Deal 2009, 2011). The desire to shift transportation to mostly electronic train would greatly change the urban landscape. With development of new railways that replace large interstates, urban space would need to be compact to make the city more walkable. New Urbanists look to the future with the vision of , “creating livable, affordable, healthy, and enjoyable communities for all” (New Deal 2009, 2011).
Works Cited:
"New Deal 2009." Urban Design. Web. 08 Feb. 2011.