Quest for Model Communities

I can't emphasize enough the value of good design (or alternatively the damage that bad design can inflict). In city and town planning circles, the number of bad or ordinary designs for buildings, sites, or communities that we've seen far outnumbers the good designs that come across the counter. The investment in a good architect or urban designer is often not valued by many in the development community, hoping to save the cost and increase ROI.

However, each new building added to a community's inventory can either add character or detract from it and the town is stuck with it for generations if the latter is the case. That is why my office is leading tours of several well respected residential communities that have been built in the metro area over the past decade or so. Since Harvard is looking for options to add a wider range of housing types to the inventory, looking for model communities as examples of what Harvard should strive for is a good activity that builds support for facilitating the policy actions needed to effectuate these new ideas.

The first community visited was Concord Riverwalk on Main Street in West Concord. Developed by Dan Gainsboro's Now Communities and designed by Union Studio, this small, compact residential community of 13 homes is located near the Assabet River and has an old neighborhood feel to it with front porches facing a central green. Garages and car parking is not emphasized so as to not impose on the facade and keep the residential area pedestrian only. Amenities include a multi-use community building, community gardens, walking trails and a nature preserve. A great example of smart growth and sustainable development with a pedestrian and neighborhood-scale design. Homes are also net zero energy use buildings.

Future project field trips may include Now Community's Emerson Green project in Devens and The Consigli Company's Abbey Road in Sherborn. I will be updating this effort after these trips. Please feel free to share developments, both residential and commercial, that you feel are very well designed and sited.