Examing New Urbanism...Southern Village

Southern Village, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Development History

Southern Village is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina approximately 32-miles from the city of Raleigh. Chapel Hill is a small southern town that encompasses approximately 21 square miles and has a population of approximately 52,000 residents.

Chapel Hill is home of the main campus of the University of North Carolina and its predominant development pattern is in the form of single-family detached homes.

Bryan Properties originally developed southern Village’s residential development and the Montgomery Development Carolina Corporation developed the mixed-use core. The development covers an area of approximately 312-acres and features 1,175 residential units in the form of 550 single-family detached homes, 375 townhomes and condominiums and 250 apartments resulting in an overall density yield of 3.8 units per acre.

Within the mixed-use core, over 350,000 square feet of retail and commercial space is occupied by businesses that range from a cinema to medical offices. In addition to the mixed-use core there is a church located within the development as well as a public school.

Design Analysis

The design strategy for Southern Village employed principles of New Urbanism in its planning and implementation. The design created a mixed-use core that would be accessible via pedestrian movement from any location within the development.

The mixed-use core serves as the cultural center for the community and features a wide variety of retail shops, professional offices and civic open spaces. The main open space in the mixed-use core has a hardscaped performance space that is utilized for a variety of events and activities throughout the year.

The residential portions of the development offer a diverse range of housing-types to meet the needs of every segment of the population. The design has sited the apartments and townhomes in close proximity to the mixed-use core, as well as providing residential options in the upper floors of the buildings that comprise the core.

The single-family detached homes are sited farther from the mixed-use core and feature a wide-range of home sizes and locations. All portions of the development are linked through an extensive pedestrian circulation that utilizes greenways in addition to traditional roadside walks that course through the development.

The greenway system links the large number of pocket-parks and major open spaces that are accessible in the development. The final component of the overall design of the development is the siting of an elementary school within the boundaries of Southern Village.

The obsession with performance left no room for the development of the intuitive or spiritual impact of space and form other than the aesthetic of the machine itself. -Arthur Erickson

Examining New Urbanism...Carpenter Village

Carpenter Village, Cary, North Carolina

Development History

Carpenter Village is located in the town of Cary, North Carolina approximately 13 miles from the city of Raleigh. The predominant development pattern in Cary is single-family detached housing in Planned Unit Developments with the intention of combating the negative effects of suburban sprawl.

Cary is the seventh largest municipality in North Carolina covering an area that is roughly 48 square miles and has a population of over 106,000 residents. Cary is one of the most affluent communities in North Carolina and the residential development patterns reflect that affluence.

Carpenter Village is being developed as a joint venture between The Farrell Development Company and W & W Partners and was designed by Charles M. Elam and Associates. The development encompasses approximately 370-acres and will feature 888 residential units that will be in the form of single-family detached homes, multi-family units and townhomes. The ultimate density yield from a complete build-out of the development will be approximately 6.6 units per acre.

The development features a commercial center that covers approximately 12-acres and provides space for a total of 110,000 square feet of space for office and retail uses. The development is situated adjacent to a 22-acre lake that provides residents with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation activities.

Design Analysis

The design of Carpenter Village aims to create a unique sense of place by creating a livable community as opposed to the normal planned unit developments that are common in Cary. The residential component of the design takes the form of single-family detached homes, townhomes located adjacent to a main thoroughfare (Morrisville-Carpenter Road).

Rowhouses are sited adjacent to the community recreation facilities located at the terminus of the main boulevard leading into the development. The costs of residences in Carpenter Village are slightly higher than those of other planned unit developments with the lowest-cost townhome starting at $180,000.

The vehicular-use system has been designed to accommodate the private automobile in addition to accommodating the existing public transportation system. There are bus-stops located at the entry of the development along the main boulevard as well as in the commercial core.

The commercial core of the development is accessible from within the development as well as from Morrisville-Carpenter Road, serving as the northern boundary of the current phase of development.

The circulation system within the residential portion of the development has been designed utilizing the principles of New Urbanism, specifically a clear separation of uses between vehicles and pedestrians, homes sited close to the road edge, garages located in the rear of the residences and access via alleys. However, a few of the roads do terminate in cul-de-sacs, which are an undesirable solution to smart growth road design.

The design of the development features over 98-acres of open space that comprises approximately 26-percent of the total development area. A 22-acre lake is part of the overall open space system and 12-miles of walking and bicycling trails wind around the lake and connect to a majority of the residential areas.

The community also features a community center building that provides such amenities as a community pool, tennis courts and volleyball courts as well as an outdoor playscape.

If it keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push-button finger. -Frank Lloyd Wright

Village of Woodsong....Sustainable Qualities

Intensity of Use

The density yield of the development has been determined to be 7.4 units per acre when the final build-out of the development is achieved. The design of the development successfully creates a compact and consolidated community in which every portion of the development is easily accessible.

The maximization of build-able space in the development has greatly increased the potential for the development to become truly sustainable throughout its life. In addition to the maximization of available space within the development, the inclusion of townhomes and rowhouses within the mixed-use core as well as other portions of the development help to increase the density of the development.

The development has minimized lot sizes, provided designs for modest-sized residences and reduced street-edge setbacks in order to facilitate a higher density. The design consolidates all of the residential portions of the development around the mixed-use core that is intended to become the cultural center of the community.

It is essential that the developer not deviate from the intended build-out density in order to maintain assurance that the development will be sustainable when completed.

Diversity of Use

Woodsong features a diverse mix of housing types, including single-family detached homes, townhomes and a mixed-use core, that greatly benefit the overall design. In addition to a diverse mix of housing types and the inclusion of retail and office space, there are multiple options regarding the planning of community open spaces, nature trails and public performance spaces.

These factors have allowed the designers of Woodsong to achieve a comprehensive and complimentary use of the land within the development. The design of the development sites the elements in a manner that provides access to adjacent land uses that greatly increases its ability to provide a complimentary use of the land.

The development of the mixed-use core will provide the greatest amount of diversity in the development and will include apartment-style living that will be affordable to a diverse range of economic groups. The community will benefit from the inclusion of these apartments in that there should be a diverse mix of residents living in the development as well as working in the development.


Extent of Use

Due to the fact that the development has only reached a build-out of approximately 25-percent, it is difficult to determine if the boundaries of the development will be clearly defined.

The design of the development indicates that existing natural areas will contain two portions of the development and the remaining two edges will be defined primarily by architecture.

A preliminary analysis of the site plan and design intent leads to the conclusion that Woodsong will successfully create a development that is both contained and consistent.

The design of a single entry-point to the development creates a clearly defined gateway that will lead directly to the mixed-use and civic core of Woodsong. The preservation of existing natural areas provides a consistent edge in areas where there are no existing neighboring residential uses.

The edges that will be defined with architecture are directly adjacent to existing residential neighborhoods yet they do not encroach upon these uses and show no sign of negatively impacting the existing community.



When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. -John Muir

Examining New Urbanism....Village of Woodsong

Development History

The Village of Woodsong is a small walking community located in the town of Shallotte, North Carolina approximately 37 miles south of Wilmington. Shallotte is a predominantly white coastal community that has a population of approximately 1,500 permanent residents and covers an area of 5.4 square miles. The town relies heavily on visitors to the coastal region and can be considered a vacation destination along the North Carolina coast.

Shallotte features a number of championship golf courses, beaches and outdoor recreational activities related to the Shallotte River that courses its way through the town. The predominant development pattern of the town is single-family detached housing which contributes to the town’s low density.

The Milliken Company, a local real estate and development company that “specializes in development based on Smart Growth principles” is developing the Village of Woodsong. Thomas E. Low, a Charlotte-based architect who was formerly a member of Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company, designed the development.

The firm of Soil and Environmental Consultants, Inc., located in Raleigh, performed the environmental design of the development and the conceptual land planning was provided by the Department of Landscape Architecture at North Carolina State University under the supervision of Professor Robin Moore.

The development phase of Woodsong is 25-percent complete and the design calls for 164 dwellings to occupy the 22-acre site that will yield a build-out density of 7.4 units per acre. The development will feature a mixed-use core that will provide office and retail space with residential facilities located on the upper floors of the buildings.

The different portions of the development have been sited in order to facilitate pedestrian movement throughout the entire site and each portion of the development can be reached via within a five-minute walking distance.

The predominant architectural style of the development pays careful attention to the coastal vernacular and features modest-sized residences with wrap-around porches to facilitate inter-personal communication.

Design Analysis

The design of Woodsong calls for the development of 164 residences in the form of single-family detached homes, townhomes and mixed-use buildings that surround the development’s Market Square. The designs of the residences reflect the vernacular architecture of the region and are designed with New Urbanist principles in mind with regards to their relation with the street edge.

The vehicular-use system for the development places the pedestrian at the top of the transportation hierarchy and any portion of the development can be accessed via a five-minute walk. In addition to providing connections to the different portions of the development, a environmentally-sensitive trail network has been designed to facilitate outdoor recreational activities.

The design of the development features a number of community open-spaces and includes a small performance stage that lies on the peninsula of the development’s pond. This space is utilized for small concert performances, public readings and various small-scale performances.

The natural hardwood area directly adjacent to the performance space will be preserved and will be accessible through nature-trails that connect to the overall pedestrian circulation system.

The mixed-use core will feature the largest buildings in the development and will house office and retail uses as well as a residential component. A coffee shop, specialty retail stores, a village market and professional offices will occupy the commercial portion of the mixed-use core.

The residential component will consist of apartments located on the upper floors of the buildings and a series of rowhouse-style condominiums will be adjacent to the mixed-use core around a large community open space.



The gross heathenism of civilization has generally destroyed nature, and poetry, and all that is spiritual. -John Muir

Examining New Urbanism...I'on

Design Analysis

The design of I’on calls for the creation of six neighborhoods, or boroughs, within the boundaries of the overall development. These six neighborhoods are connected to one another through the vehicular-use system that features main roads with street trees, on-street parking and alley-access to each residences garage.























The design intention of the residential portion of the development aimed to create these neighborhoods in order to encourage each neighborhood to assume its own identity and character.

The architectural character of each of the neighborhoods varies, yet each style is closely linked with the vernacular style of Charleston. The character of each individual neighborhood directly reflects the natural surroundings within which each borough is located.

The neighborhood of Ionsborough is the only neighborhood located in close proximity to the commercial core. This neighborhood features slightly smaller residences than the other portions of the development and reduces the distance of the required setbacks from adjacent properties and the street edge.


The smaller residences and smaller lot sizes in Ionsborough give this neighborhood the highest density out of all six neighborhoods within the overall development.

The commercial core that is located within the Ionsborough neighborhood features a gourmet food store, a hair salon, day spa, florist, art dealer, pub, bakery and professional offices that include the development realtor, architects, a custom home builder and a dentist’s office.

These commercial uses are accessible by foot from Ionsborough, however the residents in outlying neighborhoods of the development mostly rely on bicycle or automobile transportation to access the commercial core.

The Eastlake neighborhood surrounds the largest of the man-made lakes located in the development. The architectural style of the residences in this neighborhood reflects the low-country vernacular style of many of the larger homes of the southeastern coastal regions. While there is no direct visual connection to the commercial core of the development, pedestrian access from the Eastlake borough to the core is more manageable than the outlying neighborhoods.
















At the northern edge of East Lake, a community open space features waterfront access and the development amphitheater which provides the community with the opportunity to host a myriad of events throughout the year including arts and crafts festivals, small concerts and outdoor films in the warmer months.

The Ponsbury borough is located to the west of the Eastlake neighborhood and is bordered by the third of the three man-made lakes in the development. This neighborhood also reflects the low-country architectural vernacular with slightly smaller residences than the neighboring boroughs.

Two canals connect the two lakes yet the smaller of the lakes, West Lake, is the only lake with a public boat ramp to facilitate personal watercraft. The neighborhood of Westlake is currently under construction and will feature residences that are in scale with the two remaining neighborhoods located to the north.

Two neighborhoods in the northern portion of the development, Montrose and Shellmore, feature residences located within a wooded setting and feature the largest residences within the entire development. This portion of the development is the farthest removed from the commercial core of I’on and includes a small collection of custom-built, estate-style mansions.

It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it. -Aristotle