River Region Smart Growth & New Urbanism

[Southron]

Montgomery adopts SmartCode

The city of Montgomery adopted a set of SmartCode ordinances (optional except for downtown, where it's now mandatory) to make it easier for developers to build traditional urban developments. Montgomery is currently the largest city in the country to adopt the SmartCode.

Links to this code, as well as other helpful information, can be found at an excellent blog dedicated to Smart Growth in the River Region, www.riverregionsmartgrowth.com. This blog moved to http://riverregionsmartgrowth.blogspot.com/, but the code is still available at the old site.

The New Urban News (Oct-Nov 2006 issue) ran an article about Montgomery and area projects in the Oct-Nov 2006 issue:

In a mere two years, the Montgomery area in Alabama has blossomed into one of the South’s most dynamic markets for New Urbanism.

[Southron]

A couple of Traditional Neighborhood Developments are underway in the Montgomery area:

• The Waters - more info. Some photos of a new live/work building at The Waters are available at the River Region Smart Growth blog.

• Hampstead - by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, the first TND approved under Montgomery's SmartCode. News articles are available here and here.

[EXBubba]

A couple of Traditional Neighborhood Developments are underway in the Montgomery area:

• The Waters - more info. Some photos of a new live/work building at The Waters are available at the River Region Smart Growth blog.

• Hampstead - by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, the first TND approved under Montgomery's SmartCode. News articles are available here and here.

[Southron]

Aren't these basically the new Pike Road, since one hardley ever existed beyond a small village anyway?

[Southron]

A Dover, Kohl & Partners-led team will arrive this week to conduct a charrette for a 2,000+ acre traditional neighborhood development on the Hudson Farms property in east Montgomery. The property extends roughly from where Ray Thorington Rd. intersects with Pike Road and then southeast down Pike Road to the vicinity of Wallahatchie Rd.

This would be the third TND for Montgomery, and would utilize Montgomery's SmartCode. Dover Kohl led the effort to draft the new Montgomery Downtown Master Plan.

[Southron]

^The Hudson Farms charrette was completed this past week, with initial plans expected to be released in August, and groundbreaking planned for late 2008. In addition to Dover, Kohl & Partners, Urban Villages of Colorado is part of the development team.

Correction to previous post -- this is the 5th announced TND in Montgomery:

1. The Waters

2. Hampstead

3. Chanticleer (Vaughn Road)

4. Lafayette (Chantilly Parkway)

5. Hudson

Source: River Region Smart Growth blog

[Southron]

The town of Pike Road annexed the Lafayette Traditional Neighborhood Development (the second TND for Pike Road) last Monday. Lafayette, a 45-acre project near the intersection of Vaughn Road and Chantilly Parkway, will be the first TND permitted under Pike Road's SmartCode. Construction should begin in early 2008. The Brown, Chambless architecture firm is the lead planning consultant.

Another TND for Pike Road

[Southron]

The Alabama Forestry Commission launched an awareness campaign to persuade Alabamians to better manage growth so residents can benefit from both the growth and the area's natural resources. The commission is offering to help in the planning process, urging developers and elected officials in the River Region to get a grip on urban sprawl before it becomes a problem, to help keep what's left of Alabama's ecosystem intact.

Forestry officials praised developers in the area who are already using "smart growth" methods, mentioning The Waters development in Pike Road as an example.

Forestry officials urge region to get grip on sprawl

Hopefully more and more smart growth advocates will add their voices to this discussion in the River Region. Unlike some other parts of the state, we're fortunate to have these issues being raised and discussed publicly.

[Southron]

A Dover, Kohl & Partners-led team will arrive this week to conduct a charrette for a 2,000+ acre traditional neighborhood development on the Hudson Farms property in east Montgomery. The property extends roughly from where Ray Thorington Rd. intersects with Pike Road and then southeast down Pike Road to the vicinity of Wallahatchie Rd.

This would be the third TND for Montgomery, and would utilize Montgomery's SmartCode. Dover Kohl led the effort to draft the new Montgomery Downtown Master Plan.

[Southron]

Birmingham's Thicket magazine ran an article in the August-September issue about New Urbanism in Montgomery. The article mentions the SmartCode, The Waters, Hampstead, Hudson and the Atlantic & Pacific development in Old Cloverdale. It's a good read.

Link: Montgomery’s New Movement