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The 2019 FHB House is a modern take on a traditional neighborhood home in a New Urbanist planned community outside of Louisville, Kentucky. The aesthetic is a nod to house styles found through historic southern cites but the choice of building materials and amenities is distinctly modern.

Kentucky 2019

What is a New Urbanism Development?

Walkable neighborhoods and more interconnected communities are why homeowners, developers, and municipalities all find this this unique design philosophy attractive.

By Jason Black
Article Image

New Urbanism is an urban-planning philosophy that looks back to the hallmarks of early 1900s neighborhoods to counter the ills of suburban sprawl. Our community, Norton Commons, is designed as a one-stop shop for living. The development encompasses some 600-acres of a former farm. There are both apartments and single-family homes, and plenty of amenities. There are retail stores, office space, some of our favorite restaurants, schools, and a YMCA. Both my wife, Gretchen, and I have our offices here in Norton Commons.

Downtown of a mixed-use development in a New Urbanism community
Mixed-use development in the new traditional neighborhood. The areas adjacent to the town centers have retail and office space, restaurants and apartments. Moving out from the center, the streets quickly transition to single-family homes.

Being a master-planned community, we’re not allowed to build whatever type of house we want in Norton Commons. All plans must be submitted for review and approval by the town architect and architectural review board. For guidance, there’s a 90-page pattern book that covers guidelines for the different styles allowed in town. For the Fine Homebuilding House, we’re designing in the “Classical Vernacular” style here in Norton Commons. These guidelines are based on the homes of Louisville built around 1900. The homes are built on narrow lots with the houses close the street. Sidewalks on both sides of the street with alleyway garages behind the houses encourage walking, while the broad front porches invite homeowners to sit outside and encourage conversation with the folks using the sidewalks. As the trees along the sidewalks mature, the sidewalks will be shaded and the streets punctuated with natural greenery.

neighborhood streets in a New Urbanism community with sidewalks, front porches, and alley-loaded garages
New Urbanism is known for sidewalks, front porches, and alley-loaded garages.

 

New Urbanism town center walkable downtown
This is one of the two town centers in Norton Commons. Every house in the development should be within a 10-minute walk of one of these centers.

There are two town centers—one in the South Village and one in the North Village, which is the area where our house is being built. Each house in Norton Commons is within a 10-min. walk of one of these commercial hubs.

New Urbanism open space and public park with amphitheater and pond
Of the 600-acre development site, 150 acres are devoted to open space and parks. This park includes a waterfront amphitheater available for community events and shows.

Other examples of New Urbanism and planned communities:

  • Deliberate Neighborhood on Martha’s Vineyard
  • Downsize and Upscale
  • Welcome to the Agrihood

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Kentucky 2019 Videos Visit the Resource Guide Behind the Build: Rhode Island 2016 Behind the Build: Vermont 2017 Behind the Build: Califormia 2018 Behind the Build: Connecticut 2020

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  1. vinewood | Jul 13, 2019 02:46am | #1

    I could not tolerate living so close to my neighbors. I could barely tolerate 3/4 of an acre in a rural subdivision, before we saved up enough to buy our own acreage to build a new house on. With barely any dirt around these houses you have no room for a garden, fruit trees, outbuildings, workshops, boats, atv's, heavy equipment, trees, tree-houses, room for outdoor animals and a thousand other things.

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