Developers are building more and more residential communities around organic farms, banking on increased resident demand for locally grown food, outdoor recreation space, and small-town charm.
Across the country, a growing number of new housing developments are beginning to dramatically lessen the distance that produce travels from farm to table. However, these organic farm communities attempt to offer more than just a steady supply of fresh produce. Inspired by old-fashioned farming towns, many of the developments aim to foster a good dose of small-town charm and interaction amongst neighbors.
As The Los Angeles Times reports:
"Their emergence has banked on the growing demand for locally grown food and a changing outlook by some homeowners on what an upscale community should offer."
" 'People are willing to pay more for a smaller lot, because the lot comes with a 100-acre farm and 300 acres of forest or green space,' said Ed McMahon, a senior fellow with the Urban Land Institute in Washington."
"'Agriculture is the new golf,' he said."
FULL STORY: Suburban living, down on the farm

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

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

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

Interactive Map Reveals America's “Shade Deserts”
Launched by UCLA and American Forests to combat heat-related deaths, the tool maps the shade infrastructure for over 360 U.S. cities.

Bicycles and Books — In Sacramento, Libraries Now Offer Both
Adult library card holders can check out e-bikes and e-trikes for up to one week.

Colorado Landfills Emit as Much Pollution as 1M Cars
Landfills are the third-largest source of methane pollution in Colorado, after agriculture and fossil fuel extraction.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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