Columbia, Irvine and The Woodlands (Working Paper)

Planning Lessons from Three U.S. New Towns of the 1960s and 1970s

Author(s): Forsyth, Ann
Publication Date: April 2001

48 pages; Inventory ID WP01AF1; English


Columbia, Irvine and The Woodlands	1.32 MB

Abstract

This paper examines three new communities developed since the 1960s and planned as a response to early criticisms of urban sprawl: Columbia, Irvine, and The Woodlands. They were pioneers of a number of techniques now considered to be part of the smart growth repertoire. They also represent a best case scenario for private sector development—-they had big land areas, rich developers, cutting edge professionals, and visions that were held on to. Drawing on a range of data sources—-interviews, archival records, census data, and site observations—-this paper shows that while they are not perfect, they are very good examples of what planners would probably all call best practices in smart growth. However problems with automobile dependence and affordability indicate areas where US planners may have to make some tougher choices about land use planning and design.

This paper has been published in a journal:

Ann Forsyth, 2002, 'Planning Lessons from Three US New Towns of the
1960s and 1970s: Irvine, Columbia, and The Woodlands.' Journal of the
American Planning Association 68, 4: 387-415.
see http://www.planning.org/japa/index.htm