30A’s New Urbanist Foundation

"The building of cities is one of man's greatest achievements" - Edmund Bacon

One part design movement, one part principled philosophy, New Urbanism is as much of 30A as emerald waters, sugar white sands and bright, sunny days. A new age way of thinking, born ironically from inspiration of city building and design techniques which were prevalent pre World War Two, a New Urbanist landscape is a place that is one with its natural surroundings. While many cities, towns and villages are developed despite its habitat, or rather, built against the terrain native to the land, a city designed under New Urbanist ideals instead constructs its buildings in harmony with nature. This belief system extends from the design, architecture, and actual placement of structures to the layout of public spaces and everything in-between.

Across the globe, organizations such as A Vision for Europe or The International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism promote New Urbanism, while here in the United States, the Congress for New Urbanism (cnu.org) is the predominant organization promoting New Urbanist ideology. Personally, I’m the type of person to go straight to the source in any given situation. For example, when I wanted to know what a Marco Rollo sushi roll was, I asked a sushi chef (it’s shrimp, steak, avocado, jalapeno cream cheese, wasabi aioli, bacon, green onions and absolutely delicious by the way). As The Congress for New Urbanism, co-founded by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, designers of America’s first New Urbanist town, 30A’s own Seaside, is the first and foremost organization dedicated to New Urbanist design philosophy in the world, this excerpt from their charter provides a better explanation of them than I could offer.

“We advocate the restructuring of public policy and development practices to support the following principles: neighborhoods should be diverse in use and population; communities should be designed for the pedestrian and transit as well as the car; cities and towns should be shaped by physically defined and universally accessible public spaces and community institutions; urban places should be framed by architecture and landscape design that celebrate local history, climate, ecology, and building practice.” - Charter of New Urbanism

Their charter is a fascinating read, and I suggest all those interested in New Urbanism read it in its entirety. It can be read here.

Just as with any school of design, you’ll find people who interpret the various ideals differently, and there are even those who discredit that New Urbanism is an actual concept by denigrating its deeply rooted historical influence. I find this a bit of an unfair statement, as while the city planning choices a New Urbanist would be fueled by were mostly fashionable before the 20th century’s automotive boom, this is a much more modern take of those time honored traditions. With principles molded in the Complementary field of architecture, New Urbanist landscapes often employ, but aren’t limited to, postmodern, vernacular and New Classical style structures.

Throughout the last few decades, New Urbanist towns have been popping up all across the country. Colorado’s Prospect New Town, Mueller Community in Austin, Texas and the Del Mar Station near Los Angeles are just a few examples, but arguably the first New Urbanist town was 30A’s own Seaside, when Seaside founder Robert Davis hired the now famous Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk to create a new type of beach town, one with deep roots in the past that pointed towards the future. Development began 40 years ago in 1981, when the lots sold for the meager price of $15,000. Anybody familiar with real estate prices in Seaside nowadays will instantly realize that those lucky original residents essentially found the real estate equivalent of buying Tesla stock right before it exploded. A price boom in Seaside came around 1988, when the unique architecture and layout of Seaside caught the attention of Atlantic Magazine, and then the world, as its idyll lifestyle was featured as a cover story for the publication. Then, in 1998, Jim Carrey reminded the world that Seaside is such a lovely town, it almost doesn’t seem real in his well liked film The Truman Show, which again boosted the popularity of the little beach community. Keep in mind that while development started in 1981, The Congress for New Urbanism wasn’t created until 1993, meaning that while Seaside is a New Urbanist town, it was also a prototype of sorts; an inspiration for later organization.

Over the years, more and more communities have sprung up across 30A’s stretch of lush forest, dune lakes and Florida Gulf Coast. Many of these are more traditional American neighborhoods and subdivisions, but more than a few New Urbanist towns have joined Seaside in this stretch of paradise. The sun-bleached landscapes of Alys Beach, the resort like WaterColor, starkly European influenced Rosemary Beach and haven for the arts Gulf Place in particular, even some of the other villages of 30A have New Urbanist principles, such as 30A’s first settlement, Grayton Beach. In all of these places, you’ll find neighborhoods that coexist with their natural environment, and provide highly walkable town spaces where needing a car to obtain your daily dose of food, drink, sun and fun isn’t necessary.

For me, it’s difficult, or maybe even impossible, for me to pick a favorite community alongside 30A. Each has such distinct charm that I can’t imagine life along that beach without any of those precious, individual ecosystems. Seaside’s bright, often pastel colored charm is undeniable, and feels as if you are walking straight into a postcard. Alys Beach, on the other hand, is as unique as a town comes, and the fact that it is ever expanding makes it an even more exciting place. In fact, when the whole town is fully built and realized, Alys Beach will be significantly larger than its historic neighbor. The resort like Americana offered up in WaterColor is beyond reproach, while there is nothing quite like being surrounded by the buildings of Rosemary Beach, with nothing but the shore beyond. Asking me to choose would be like asking me to pick my favorite Italian restaurant in 30A, and I can’t do that either.

Am I a New Urbanist? Well, yes and no. I absolutely love 30A; it is the most cozy, comfortable and beautiful place I have ever seen. It is literal perfection. Designing a town to create livable, breathable space where everything you could need is a short walk or bike ride away invites nothing but relaxation, happiness and a healthy existence. On the flipside of that coin, I also love busy cities like Destin or Panama City. Variety is a spice of life, and that is one of the things I love most about my job, getting to help a diversified client base complete real estate transactions across several unique areas of different size and purpose.

If you ever have any questions about real estate, or just life in general out in 30A, or any of its surrounding areas, visit my website BuyDestin30A.com to learn more about the various cities, towns and villages on and near Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast. Whether you are an investor, builder, developer, or just looking for you and your family, call me day or night. I want nothing more than to make your real estate dreams come true!

FURTHER READING:

On 30A: BuyDestin30A.com

On New Urbanism: cnu.org