The most recent trend in urban developement has been towards private communities with fenced perimeters and supervised entrance gates. All the streets, sidewalks, and parks within these communities are private. The Walling and Gating of American Suburbs.
Livable communities resemble traditional American towns and neighborhoods.
Many people, including urban planner Peter Calthorpe and archetect Andres Duany are working to revive the popularity of livable communities. Afterall, new-town or livable communities are essentially the same kind of communities that Americans fled from in droves during the crime epedemics of the 60s and 70s. Until crime is brought under control and reduced to pre-1960s levels, Americans will continue to choose communities that feature guards, gates and isolation from the rest of society. The proliferation of fortress communities throughout our nation is a direct result of the breakdown of our criminal justice system.