| EVALUATION BASED UPON NEO-TRADITIONAL IDEAL |
| Criteria |
Neo--Traditional Ideal |
Case |
Rating |
| Walkable
Community |
Stores within walking
distance (1/4 mile) of all
residences. |
Appears that all residences are or
will be within walking distance
of a neighborhood store. The
"High Street," however, is within
walking distance of few
residences. |
2 |
| Transit Oriented
Development |
Automobile competitive transit service
providing service to
entire urban area |
Limited automobile competitive transit service only to downtown and only at peak hours --- work
trip market share is lower than
the Calgary metropolitan average |
2 |
| Housing Prices |
Mix of housing prices,
including low cost
housing. |
Housing prices generally above
median house price. |
2 |
| Density |
7 housing units per acre
minimum (12,000 per
square mile) |
Estimated density at 2,900 per
square mile. The "High Street,"
which will cater to the fully
developed community takes up a
good deal of space. Eventual
densities will be higher, but
unlikely to exceed 4,000. |
1 |
| Impact on
Suburbanization |
Infill -- does not
contribute to
suburbanization |
Greenfield --- contributing to
suburbanization |
1 |
| Balance of jobs and
residences |
Community provides a
balance of jobs and
residences, reducing the necessity to commute by automobile |
A number of commercial jobs: generally low wage retail jobs that could not support the high
costs of home ownership in this development. |
1 |
| Market oriented
development |
No subsidies or tax
breaks |
Unknown |
--- |
| Composite Rating |
1.50 |
| Rating System:
5: Substantially Exceeds Objective
4: Exceeds Objective
3: Meets Objective
2: Fails to Meet Objective
1: Substantially Fails to Meet Objective |
Nothing in this review is meant to suggest that any neo-traditional development is not a desirable community.
Most are well designed and attractive. To the extent that any such development fails to achieve
neo-traditional (new urbanist) objectives is more than likely a reflection that the objectives themselves are
impractical and largely unachievable in an environment that depends upon consumer choice in a free market.
