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In the general debate about development, people tend
to fear density. Many people believe that "density" means more
traffic, crowded schools, and new buildings shoehorned together.
Yet, opposition often evaporates when people are presented with
examples of dense communities that feature beautiful architecture
and protected open space, where people can walk along shady
sidewalks and feel safe letting their kids play in the front
yard.
Compact development preserves natural resources, encourages
independence from automobiles, reuses existing infrastructure, and
feels more like fondly remembered, traditional neighborhoods. The
AIA's member architects can help citizens design dense communities
to be attractive, cost effective, healthy, and environmentally
friendly.
Quick Facts
* Good design can create dense developments that are appealing,
functional and feel less crowded.
* Well-designed, dense housing sells as well as, and sometimes
better than, widely spaced homes. Dense, 24-hour neighborhoods are
consistently among the top recommended real-estate
investments.
* The top consumers of compact, auto-independent housing - empty
nesters, childless couples, and singles - will make up the majority
of American households for the foreseeable future.
* Dense developments with a clear identity, nearby shops and
recreational facilities, and a sense of community feel more like
the traditional neighborhoods many people admire.
* Children and the elderly can be more independent in a community
where they can walk to visit friends or to a community center,
rather than having to wait for a ride.
* Using land as efficiently as possible preserves open space for
recreation within easy reach of city dwellers, while protecting the
environment and natural systems.
* Compact developments offer higher tax revenues with lower
per-unit infrastructure costs.
* Compact, attractively designed neighborhoods that offer a variety
of amenities encourage people to walk, bike, or take public transit
rather than drive. High density is necessary to maintain effective
public transit.
* In a 2003 public-opinion poll, nearly half of the respondents
favored designing communities to be more walkable, even if it means
they are denser.
* People often believe that spread-out, suburban areas are safer
than urban neighborhoods, but, in fact, compact communities
generally have fewer traffic fatalities and faster police, fire,
and ambulance response times.
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