Rural Development Attempts Alternative to Suburban Sprawl

Located about an hour outside of Atlanta, the project is being built in a wooded rural area, and its developers expect it to eventuallyhouse 2,500 people.

"Called Serenbe-"a serene place to be"-the New Urbanism-style development is a model for sustainable living, its creators believe. Designed to be an antidote for suburban sprawl, Serenbe weaves together high-density residences with walkability, sustainability, and a self-sufficient mix of agriculture and local businesses. The community has already grown to include 260 residents, a bakery, three high-end restaurants, a weekly farmer's market, several shops and galleries, and a 19-room inn. "We are tremendously proud of what we've built," says Steve Nygren, who founded the development with his wife, Marie.

The Serenbe master plan, designed by architect Phillip Tabb, director of the architecture department at Texas A&M University, envisions 2,500 residents scattered through four interconnected villages. Currently, the village of Shelborne is 80 percent finished, while a second, Grange, is 20 percent complete."