Kentlands is an award-winning neo-urban community in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Though founded in an area filled with history, the Kentlands was originally conceived on 358 acres in 1988. Today, Kentlands remains the most successful and largest neo-traditional New Urbanist project in North America.
The major component of Neo Urbanism is Walk ability and workability
Most daily needs; shopping, services, schools, and recreation, is within a five to ten minute walk of home and work. Pedestrian-friendly design includes buildings close to the street, front porches, continuous tree cover, on-street parking, hidden parking lots, and garages relegated to rear lanes. Narrow streets, traditional roadway features such as forks, staggered intersections, traffic circles, and on-street parking are provided to slow down traffic. Elementary schools, day-care centers and recreation facilities are located to be easily accessible on foot or bicycle. A variety of parks, from tot-lots and green spaces, to ball fields and community gardens, are located within neighborhoods.
The purpose of The Kentlands is to create a rich environment in which community would be both fostered and enhanced by planning. The central idea is that the community should be pedestrian-oriented, and mix together the necessities of daily life. Houses, shops, businesses, offices, schools, places of worship, restaurants and recreation are placed close together, and made accessible to pedestrians via sidewalks and paths. Equally important is the diversity that comes from a mix of residents and housing affordability. Housing options were built that would work for singles, young families, and older residents, in a range of apartments, cottages, townhouses, single-family homes (some with garage apartments) and live-work units.
Mixed-use is encouraged within the neighborhood and the block and within buildings through a mix of shops, offices, apartments, houses, recreation and institutional uses.
Homes
A variety of housing types, sizes and prices are located close together, often in the same block Affordable housing is designed to look like market-rate housing, not segregated, and never clustered in large numbers. The housing mix contains people of diverse ages, ethnicity, and incomes.
Commercial buildings and public sites are located in prominent locations, as landmarks, within the community. Streets are faced by building fronts or public parks Retail buildings front the sidewalk directly, with no setback. Residences are set close to the street. Homes in The Kentlands are designed with bay windows, balconies, stoops, open porches, awnings, arcades, etc. Most residential lots have driveways and garages in the rear of the home.
Residences, shops, services and employment are close together to preserve open space, encourage walking and to create a true sense of a small town. Close neighbors support a sense of community, caring and security. Homes in The Kentlands and Lakelands are lovingly maintained. There is truly a pride in the community and it shows!.
Traditional Neighborhood Values
The model of neo urbanism, The Kentlands' and Lakelands success lies in the people who make up the community, and can be seen in its clubs and organizations, active street life, internal politics, active recreation program, athletic teams.,
Kentlands is a truly incredible place and has a profound pride in itself. It's a great place to live and work. Just ask anyone who lives or works here!
The design of Kentlands addressed the question of how to create a rich environment in which community would be both fostered and enhanced by planning. A central precept is that the community should be pedestrian-oriented, and mix together the necessities of daily life. Houses, shops, businesses, offices, schools, places of worship, restaurants and recreation are placed close together, and made accessible to walkers via sidewalks and paths. Equally important is the diversity that comes from a mix of residents and housing affordability. Housing types were built that would work for singles, young families, and older residents, in a range of apartments, cottages, townhouses, single-family homes (some with garage apartments) and live-work units.
The major component of Neo Urbanism is Walk ability and workability
Most daily needs; shopping, services, schools, and recreation, is within a five to ten minute walk of home and work. Pedestrian-friendly design includes buildings close to the street, front porches, continuous tree cover, on-street parking, hidden parking lots, and garages relegated to rear lanes. Narrow streets, traditional roadway features such as forks, staggered intersections, traffic circles, and on-street parking are provided to slow down traffic. Elementary schools, day-care centers and recreation facilities are located to be easily accessible on foot or bicycle. A variety of parks, from tot-lots and green spaces, to ball fields and community gardens, are located within neighborhoods.
The purpose of The Kentlands is to create a rich environment in which community would be both fostered and enhanced by planning. The central idea is that the community should be pedestrian-oriented, and mix together the necessities of daily life. Houses, shops, businesses, offices, schools, places of worship, restaurants and recreation are placed close together, and made accessible to pedestrians via sidewalks and paths. Equally important is the diversity that comes from a mix of residents and housing affordability. Housing options were built that would work for singles, young families, and older residents, in a range of apartments, cottages, townhouses, single-family homes (some with garage apartments) and live-work units.
Mixed-use is encouraged within the neighborhood and the block and within buildings through a mix of shops, offices, apartments, houses, recreation and institutional uses.
Homes
A variety of housing types, sizes and prices are located close together, often in the same block Affordable housing is designed to look like market-rate housing, not segregated, and never clustered in large numbers. The housing mix contains people of diverse ages, ethnicity, and incomes.
Commercial buildings and public sites are located in prominent locations, as landmarks, within the community. Streets are faced by building fronts or public parks Retail buildings front the sidewalk directly, with no setback. Residences are set close to the street. Homes in The Kentlands are designed with bay windows, balconies, stoops, open porches, awnings, arcades, etc. Most residential lots have driveways and garages in the rear of the home.
Residences, shops, services and employment are close together to preserve open space, encourage walking and to create a true sense of a small town. Close neighbors support a sense of community, caring and security. Homes in The Kentlands and Lakelands are lovingly maintained. There is truly a pride in the community and it shows!.
Traditional Neighborhood Values
The model of neo urbanism, The Kentlands' and Lakelands success lies in the people who make up the community, and can be seen in its clubs and organizations, active street life, internal politics, active recreation program, athletic teams.,
Kentlands is a truly incredible place and has a profound pride in itself. It's a great place to live and work. Just ask anyone who lives or works here!
The design of Kentlands addressed the question of how to create a rich environment in which community would be both fostered and enhanced by planning. A central precept is that the community should be pedestrian-oriented, and mix together the necessities of daily life. Houses, shops, businesses, offices, schools, places of worship, restaurants and recreation are placed close together, and made accessible to walkers via sidewalks and paths. Equally important is the diversity that comes from a mix of residents and housing affordability. Housing types were built that would work for singles, young families, and older residents, in a range of apartments, cottages, townhouses, single-family homes (some with garage apartments) and live-work units.