New Urbanism Appeals More to Boomers, 'Creative Class'

By Sylvain Metz
smetz@clarionledger

New urbanism, or traditional neighborhood development, isn't right in all situations, but two groups in particular have embraced the concept.

Tom Low, director of town planning for Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. of Miami, said the type of development like The Town of Lost Rabbit and the proposed Flowood Town Center attracts baby boomers and the 25-48 age group known as the "creative class."

Traditional home owners like the quiet life in the suburbs, Low acknowledges. But baby boomers close to retirement are deciding they are tired of that quiet life and want more social interaction.

Pointing to a poll in USA Today, Low said the majority of baby boomers said they "didn't want to live in a retirement community. They don't want to get away from it all. They don't want to be segregated from other age groups or activities," Low said. "These are active extroverts."

By 2008, between 67 million and 68 million baby boomers are set to retire, he said.

The other demographic attracted to new urbanism — the 25- to 48-year-old "creative class" — is "bored" with the suburbs and prefer city life. "They want to hang out," said Low, who heads DPZ's office in Charlotte, N.C.

In this group, particularly on the younger end, are individuals more concerned about where they live. They move to their ideal community first, then find a job, Low said.

"I think baby-boomers only want to live to work and buy stuff," said Low, who is 49 years old. "The other (group) wants to find a cool place to live then find a job where they live."

Marina Khoury, a partner with DPZ, said development is reaching a tipping point, that is, a trend that begins to stick.

"In many cases a conventional builder is now wanting to do something different," Khoury said. "People are wanting to return to a sense of community and see how they can evolve differently within the same community."

Chad Emerson, a law professor at the University of Alabama at Montgomery, said urban sprawl makes for more traffic.

"Now (baby boomers) are looking for corner stores," said Emerson, who specializes in urban growth. "This type of development enables them to do so much more."