New Urbanism & the Wildwood Town Center

A growing movement, new urbanism, recognizes walkable, human-scaled neighborhoods as the building blocks of sustainable communities and regions. Through grids of streets, transportation choices, and the siting of buildings along sidewalks, new urbanism brings destinations within reach and allows for frequent encounters between citizens, in sharp contrast to sprawl.

New urbanism makes shared space the organizing element of a community. Architecture physically defines streets as places of shared use. Care for the public realm adds character, builds value, promotes security, and helps residents feel proud of their community. Plazas, squares, sidewalks, cafes, and porches provide rich settings for interaction and public life.

Congress for the New Urbanism

The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) is the leading organization promoting walkable, neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl. CNU takes a proactive, multidisciplinary approach to restoring our communities. Members are the life of the organization - they are the planners, developers, architects, engineers, public officials, investors, and community activists who create and influence our built environment, transforming growth patterns from the inside out.

Whether it's bringing restorative plans to hurricane-battered communities in the Gulf Coast, turning dying malls into vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods, or reconnecting isolated public housing projects to the surrounding fabric, new urbanists are providing leadership in community building.