Quote:
Originally Posted by esquire
Would it be the worst thing in the world if we reverted back to the old model of residential development where the municipality lays out the streets and the builders develop the lots?
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The road network is essentially laid out by the city during area structure plans. Cities will usually have some sort of transportation master plan showing locations of future arterial roads and identify some sort of looping collector road through a neighborhood that identifies intersections on arterial roadways so intersections line up with adjacent development. The developer then goes through numerous iterations with their local roadways on a layout to maximize frontages...grids are terrible at that...Half of your roadways have nothing but side yards flanking roadways that serve no purpose other than to link streets together. Not only do you lose the frontages, but you are now building redundant roads. These roads were certainly more affordable with 1940 engineering standards.....but not today.
Gridded neighborhoods were pretty much laid out and the terrain was adjusted to work for the grid. Minor drainage courses were eliminated, tree stands were obliterated, you didn't have to worry about interconnectivity with storm ponds and overflows with major storm events...
Now, when possible, these features are salvaged and lots and roadways are planned in such a way that these features become amenities. You really have to examine the terrain of a site. Now, you really have to plan each section of land individually and make it work as best as possible with what is there now.
Is there a market for new gridded neighborhoods? possibly, yes. But the cost of a lot would be substantially higher than traditional suburban development and for the most part people willing to pay a premium for a gridded neighborhood can find an existing mature neighborhood to purchase in.
For the record, I'm a PM with a consulting firm that designs and builds new suburban development....But I also live downtown and I could never see myself living in a new suburban development.