New urban and standard suburban subdivisions: Evaluating psychological and social goals

Abstract

Residents living in a New Urbanist subdivision (NUS) and a more standard suburban subdivision (SSS) near Salt Lake City, UT, were interviewed to test whether residents of a New Urbanist setting experience a stronger sense of community, greater sociability and outdoor use, and stronger preferences for New Urbanist site designs and housing diversity. Results validated several, but not all, New Urbanist claims. The NUS had gridded streets, smaller lots, homes with front porches, and back alleys with accessory apartments over detached garages; the SSS lacked these and had cul-de-sacs and 47% larger lots. After controlling for two sociodemographic variables, the two groups of residents reported similar levels of sense of community. NUS residents reported more neighboring behaviors, outdoor use, and more positive reactions to alleys and apartments; SSS residents were more satisfied with their larger front yard setbacks and front-loaded attached garages. Design and management improvements used elsewhere were suggested to alleviate complaints about the rental apartments and alleys, particularly of too many cars in the alleys. © 2001 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.