What are the main achievements and shortcomings of New Urbanism? Use specific evidence from the TED talk and from Saab’s article to inform your answer.

Film still from the film The Truman Show; the movie was filmed in the actual town of Seaside, Florida, a New Urbanist development.)
This week we are reading about the planning trend that began in the 1980s in response to the “unplanned sprawl” of the American suburban landscape.  A group of architects and planners began to reimagine the basic residential neighborhood units by looking to earlier urban architectural patterns that to the seemed to provide a prescription for a strong sense of place and community.
As the Charter of New Urbanism and the reading on the Pedestrian Pocket park describe in more detail, this new planning movement sought to create landscapes that prioritize the pedestrian over the automobile, that position work space closer to residential space, that features ample open space, and that contains a variety of densely built housing that would accommodate a range of residents – not just the nuclear family of two parents and a few kids.  Part of the mission of the Congress for New Urbanism states, “We stand for the reconfiguration of sprawling suburbs into communities of real neighborhoods and diverse districts, the conservation of natural environments, and the preservation of our built legacy. ”
Some of the basic physical features of the New Urbanism include:
• Sidewalks and Narrow Streets to promote pedestrian traffic.  No one should need to depend on a car;  should not have to walk farther than five minutes to obtain basic goods and services.

• Garages should be located behind homes or in alleys.  On-street parking only;  no parking lots.

• Buildings are mixed in size, style, price and function

• High density of construction, parks, open spaces, plazas, and squares facilitate community among residents.

As you watch Kunstler’s TED talk and as you read Saab’s article “Historical Amnesia,” think about how their two perspectives come into conflict.  For this week’s post, I want you to reflect on the following question:

What are the main achievements and shortcomings of New Urbanism?  Use specific evidence from the TED talk and from Saab’s article to inform your answer.