The Transformative History of Master Planned Communities

Today’s planned communities follow many of the same tenets as their predecessors. Explore how pioneering planned communities have affected our modern concepts and how the latest trends promote everything from sustainability to cohesion. Between the livability and customization options available, these communities are attracting more and more people to their doors.

Introduction to Planned Communities

Planned communities, sometimes called master-planned communities, are mixed-use residential developments. These properties can include anything from gyms, parks, golf courses, restaurants, and even schools. Sometimes called garden cities or green towns, planned communities offer homeowners and renters new ways to enjoy their neighborhoods.

Importance in Urban Development

Planned communities are typically built near urban centers to use space just outside the city so residents can live near their jobs without crowding into close-quarters apartment buildings.

A master-planned community encourages permanency for its residents, making it more likely that employers will set up shop due to stability.

Historical Perspective

In many cases, substandard rentals have these issues. People who cannot afford to maintain their homes also face these issues. People living in these conditions often go to work every day. They make more than the minimum wage but cannot afford repairs or a better rental.

Levittown, PA: A Pioneering Community

Levittown was an unincorporated community in Pennsylvania built in the 1950s. It was known for its standardized construction process, which essentially turned homebuilding into an assembly line. The community featured public pools, baseball fields, and playgrounds and was built near a large shopping center.

William Levitt's Mass Production Techniques

Levitt & Sons used a 26-step building method, in which construction workers moved from one site to the next, performing the same task. So, an electrician would go from one home to the next, adapting their general instructions to meet the needs of the property in question. Within just six years, the developers completed just under 17,500 homes. At peak production, that was one home every 16 minutes!

Post-War Suburbanization

Levittown was so popular that it led to more significant trends in suburbanization. People saw that they could get more space and fresh air if they moved away from the city, and they didn’t have to sacrifice convenience or community when they chose a planned community with everything they needed on site.

This was particularly attractive after World War II when many veterans returned home with little savings but plenty of help from the GI Bill. Planned communities became an excellent compromise that allowed them to better provide for their families without waiting.

Lakewood, CA: Significance in Suburban Development.

Lakewood began before Levittown in 1950. With roughly the same number of homes, 17,500, the community featured street lighting and a shopping area. It was also very walkable, with plenty of green space and land for easy navigation[1].

Planned Neighborhoods and Amenities

Lakewood quickly grew to more than 70,000 residents in less than three years. To handle the extra demand, Lakewood incorporated Los Angeles to contract with their existing services (e.g., water sewer, road repair, and fire protection). This planned community made history because it allowed the community to retain local control while still tapping into Los Angeles’ resources. The arrangement was unusual for a planned community, making it all the more popular.

Comparison to Other Post-War Developments

The most notable difference between Lakewood and other post-war developments was its ability to strike a chord with American sentiment. After the war, the future looked bright, and Lakewood advertised itself as the city of tomorrow. Its brand-new homes and convenient amenities made it look like a paradise for young families with big dreams in a prosperous country. Plus, it was a place where everyone could come together to support the more important causes of the day.

Honorable Mentions

In addition to Levittown and Lakewood, other notable cities with notable planned communities include:

Columbia: Built in the 1960s, Columbia, MD, was perfect for families and young professionals who wanted to be close to shops, restaurants, parks, and green spaces.
Celebration: Built near Disney World, this development by the Walt Disney Company was designed in the ’90s to evoke small-town charm. With plenty of community events and traditional architecture, Celebration is a very close-knit community.
Reston: With its many trails and lakes, Reston, VA, encourages an active lifestyle for its residents. It also has various housing types, including condos and single-family homes, to accommodate everyone.

Construction and Materials

Construction for planned communities must be efficient; otherwise, it would take up a large land plot and bump homeowners’ prices. We’ll look at how the materials and techniques changed over time.

Evolution of Construction Techniques

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) were initially developed to build more homes in less time, but since their introduction, they’ve become more of an art form than a distress call [2].

Assembly-Line Methods

Both Levittown and Lakewood followed an assembly-line format to fit their high quotas. Instead of having a group of professionals work on a home until they finish, they employ specialists to do one job on each site to build the development faster. Developers rely primarily on premade wood, concrete, and steel parts to ensure the longevity of the building.

Modern-Building Technologies

Today’s modern-building technologies have made prefabricated homes even more popular. Technological advances have led to more precise engineering, allowing developers to make roofs, walls, etc., off-site before transporting all components for assembly.

Importance of Materials for Sustainability

Developers in planned communities choose sustainable materials, such as bamboo, reclaimed wood, and recycled steel, to ensure both durability and environmentally friendly practices.

Community Amenities

Planned communities are primarily defined by their amenities, which include proximity to parks, schools, and shopping centers.

Integrating Recreational Spaces

Developers must assess nearby availability before deciding what to include in a community. If there are large shopping centers just a stone’s throw away, the goal is not necessarily to siphon business from them. Instead, the goal is to determine what the community has and what it needs before planning the space for it.

Impact on Quality of Life

Quantifying the value of picnics in the park or lazy afternoons sunbathing can be challenging. However, it’s clear that amenities like pools, shopping centers, and playgrounds significantly impact people’s quality of life. Repeated encounters with the same neighbors build loose ties that lead to strong communities where people trust one another.

Modern Trends and Innovations

Modern trends and innovations are driven by providing more value to the residents at a lower price. Today’s Community planning must keep up with the more significant environmental trends, particularly as more buyers demand energy efficiency and a lower overall carbon footprint.

Contemporary Approaches

Modern approaches to planned communities include the following:

Modular construction: Modular construction will make home sections off-site to better control on-site projects. This tactic results in less waste and faster completion times.
Green building: Developers will use recycled materials whenever possible to reduce their environmental impact.
Sustainable concrete: New advances in concrete make this universal material more durable, resulting in homes with a longer lifespan.
Modeling software/AR: The more developers, designers, and construction workers can visualize the set-up via 3D modeling, the faster workers can complete homes. Augmented reality tools also improve safety by giving workers meaningful ways of solving problems before stepping on-site.

Sustainability and Walkability

Planned communities must be built to last if they’re going to attract modern families. It must be easy to get around for convenience and encourage active lifestyles. Whether for restaurants or parks, mixed-land use today is essential for planned communities that pride themselves on bringing people together.

Customization Options

While planned communities are known for their assembly-line work, that doesn’t mean the homes are cookie-cutter replicas. Today’s planned communities feature several flexible housing designs, allowing buyers to customize everything from the layout to the number of bedrooms to the outdoor features of their property.

Role of Technology

From energy-efficient appliances to smart systems, technology is helping people live more efficiently without raising the price tag. For instance, solar panels are more effective than ever, harnessing the sun’s rays and lowering people’s utility bills. Community planning may also include linking energy systems to improve accessibility and reduce waste.

A Reflection on Planned Communities

Planned communities are a story more than a century in the making. Since their introduction, they have evolved from post-war sanctuaries to practical solutions for families and individuals from all backgrounds. Thanks to advances in technology and construction, they are also an affordable way to help people form safe and convenient communities.

The Endurance of Sustainable Communities

The enduring significance of planned communities today is partially economic, in that people want to live their jobs and still have enough breathing room to relax. However, it’s also endured partially because it gives people easy ways to connect.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a planned community?

A planned community is a residential development that also includes mixed-land use. This could be because parks, restaurants, playgrounds, and running trails are all located on-site.

How do planned communities differ from traditional neighborhoods?

Planned communities were primarily designed with the homeowners in mind. Developers keep the costs of the properties down with assembly-line construction and add conveniences like drug stores and family-friendly parks in close proximity to encourage a better quality of life.

What are some of the main advantages of living in a planned community?

Planned communities are safe and encourage people to come together with more community events. They are walkable neighborhoods for convenience, and the homes and buildings tend to be made with sustainable materials.