Can McMansions And New Urbanism Co-Exist?

Plans by the developers of Vermillion, a 400 acre New Urbanist community outside Charlotte, call for the addition of hundreds of 4,000 square foot homes to the original neighborhood of townhomes and small lot houses.

1 minute read

February 28, 2007, 12:00 PM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"One of the region's pioneering efforts in new urbanism is 'feathering out' from its high-density core and adding larger homes.

That seems at odds with the popular view of compact villages with condos on top of shops, but it's actually part of a larger vision, say the developers of Vermillion, a Huntersville project started nine years ago.

'New urbanism isn't just small houses on small lots and starter homes, although that's the way it came into the Charlotte market,' said Tom Low, who heads the local office of internationally known new urbanism pioneer Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co.

The Next Big Thing in the region will be the evolution of new urbanism, he believes."

A entry on the Charlotte Observer's Naked City blog also explores the question whether the developers are selling out New Urbanism principles, or simply adding diversity to the housing stock in response to market demand.

Thanks to Mary Newsom

Tuesday, February 27, 2007 in The Charlotte Observer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Line of multi-colored big rig trucks drivign down highway with other traffic including a yellow school bus.

Study: 4% of Truckers Lack a Valid Commercial License

Over 56% of inspected trucks had other violations.

45 minutes ago - FreightWaves

Pedestrian holding visual impairment cane pressing crosswalk button.

Chicago Judge Orders Thousands of Accessible Ped Signals

Only 3% of the city's crossing signals are currently accessible to blind pedestrians.

1 hour ago - DRA Legal

People on bike wearing helmets stopped at intersection waiting for passing cars in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Swaps Car Lanes for Bikeways in Unanimous Vote

The project will transform one of the handful of streets responsible for 80% of the city’s major crashes.

2 hours ago - Philly Voice

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.