U.S. Army Tries New Urbanism

New Urbanist design comes to the Villages at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Today, the military hopes more attractive neighborhoods will help recruit and retain soldiers, and create a stronger sense of community to support military families.

1 minute read

June 11, 2006, 5:00 AM PDT

By maryereynolds

Fort Belvoir's first New Urbanist village was occupied last year with 171 townhomes and houses designed in a local Georgian Colonial style. Herryford Village includes a "Main Street with shops and a clock tower, playgrounds, and village greens with open-air pavilions and centralized mailboxes where residents can socialize informally." In the past, suburban-style military housing looked like "the architectural equivalent of a uniform."

Joseph Scanga, a principal at Calthorpe Associates, works with the Army and the Navy to design housing. He says: "Military neighborhoods become ghost towns with heavy deployment. They struggle more than average to build and maintain community."

FULL STORY: New Urbanism: It's in the Army Now

Monday, June 5, 2006 in The New York Times

Architecture Housing Virginia

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.