Does Neotraditional Development Build Community?

Abstract

Neotraditionaldevelopment has captured the attention of planners, architects, and developers. The various kinds of development under this label claim to replace the traditional auto-dependent suburb with pedestrian-oriented mixed-use development that builds sense of community. The present study tests two claims of neotraditional plans. In a community having a traditional suburb and nearby a traditional small-town center, on which neotraditional development is modeled, interviewers surveyed 120 residents—60 from each area. The analyses compared measures of sense of community, auto use, and reasons the residents chose to live in each area. The results support the claim that higher density mixed-use developments have lower auto use, but they failed to show that this form of development or the reduced use of autos translates into in-creased sense of community.