New Urbanism architecture approach addresses the issue of affordable housing in several ways:
1. Compact and mixed-use development: New Urbanism promotes compact, walkable neighborhoods with a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. By concentrating various activities in close proximity, it reduces the need for long commutes, creating more time and money for households. This also facilitates the incorporation of affordable housing in diverse housing types and sizes within the neighborhood.
2. Inclusion of diverse housing options: New Urbanism emphasizes a variety of housing types, sizes, and prices within a neighborhood. This includes townhouses, apartments, duplexes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) like granny flats. By providing a range of housing choices, it caters to diverse incomes, making affordable housing more attainable.
3. Increased density and infill development: New Urbanism encourages higher densities and infill development to optimize land use and utilize existing infrastructure. By redeveloping underutilized or vacant lots, the cost of developing housing is reduced. This can help create more affordable housing options, especially in areas where land availability is limited.
4. Inclusionary zoning and affordable housing requirements: Many New Urbanist developments incorporate inclusionary zoning policies that require a certain percentage of units to be designated as affordable housing. These requirements ensure that affordable housing is integrated into the neighborhood fabric rather than being concentrated in specific areas, promoting economic diversity.
5. Prioritizing accessibility and public transportation: New Urbanism places a strong emphasis on pedestrian-friendly design and access to public transportation. By integrating public transportation infrastructure and reducing reliance on private vehicles, residents can save on transportation costs. This can have a positive impact on affordability, as transportation expenses are typically a significant portion of household budgets.
6. Revitalization of existing communities: New Urbanism principles can be applied not only to new developments but also to the revitalization of existing communities. By focusing on creating mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods with a variety of housing options, these older communities can be transformed to provide more affordable housing opportunities.
Overall, New Urbanism architecture aims to create vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities by considering the needs of people from various income levels, making affordable housing a central concern in its planning and design strategies.
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