An elementary school is close enough so that most children can walk from their homes. There are small playgrounds less than a half-mile from each home. The streets allow for pedestrian and automobile routes to any area within the community to spread out traffic. The streets are narrow and lined by trees to create an atmosphere fitting for pedestrians and bicycles. Buildings in the neighborhood center are placed close to the street.
Parking is placed at the rear of buildings, accessible through alleys.
Prominent sites at the ends of streets or in the community center are reserved for civic buildings. The neighborhood associations decide upon maintenance, security and physical changes. As cities and rural areas from Detroit to Macomb Township jump on the new-urbanism bandwagon to fight sprawl, some observers are raising red flags. They argue this popular new development concept may not deliver all that it promises. Suburbs, Sprawl and the Roads Not Taken .