What is New Urbanism?

According to the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), New Urbanism is a growing movement that “recognizes walkable, human-scale neighborhoods as the building blocks of sustainable communities and regions.” New Urbanism is, to a certain degree, a return to old urbanism–the kind still visible in ancient cities around the world like Jerusalem and Lucca, Italy. In these cities, buildings are mixed-use, streets are winding, and neighborhoods have a defined, concentrated center.

The short version: New Urbanism is the opposite of sprawl.

Still curious? Go here: www.cnu.org.

What is a traditional neighborhood development?

Also known as a TND, or “new urban” neighborhood, traditional neighborhood developments are planned developments that include many different housing types and land uses within a defined area. This means that schools, shops, apartments, homes, and civic buildings can all be within walking or biking distance of each other. I’On, Morris Square, and Mixson are all TNDs.

What is LEED certification?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and it is the nationally-accepted set of standards for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. The US Green Building Council adminsters LEED certification for buildings that meet these standards. North Charleston is home to one of the USGBC’s highest-rated LEED buildings: Half-Moon Outfitter’s distribution center has achieved LEED platinum status.

As part of Mixson’s commitment to sustainability,all of the Mixson homes will be LEED for Homes certified.

What are some aspects LEED considers?

LEED looks at things like:

The house’s location, in terms of proximity to public transportation and existing infrastructure. 

Energy efficiency, in terms of construction materials and appliances used.

Indoor and outdoor water conservation, such as water saving features in the home, and the use of native plants and permeable pavers, which allow rain water to soak back into the ground rather than create runoff pollution into nearby water sources.

What’s the public realm?

Pretty much everything in a neighborhood outside the actual homes: the streets, parks, greenspace…

What is Park Circle?

Park Circle is an historic area in North Charleston that was part of the Garden City and City Beautiful movements, two town planning movements of the early twentieth century. Park Circle refers to a large park, surrounded by a traffic circle, and the residential and commercial areas that branch off in four directions.

So why would I want to be in Park Circle?

Well, Park Circle is an historic area in North Charleston that was part of…no, seriously, you want to be there because it is experiencing a strong revitalization, and there are all kinds of great restaurants, bars, parks, and art venues within walking or biking distance. Some of our favorite places are:

Sesame, a burger joint that makes almost everything in house, including their ketchup and pickles; EVO pizza, an artisan brick-oven pizza place; Madra Rua, an Irish pub showing live football and rugby matches; and Riverfront Park, which is currently undergoing some green-ifying improvements.

What is AAC block?

AAC stands for aerated autoclaved concrete, which is made by mixing a small amount of cement and lime with an aggregate such as sand, mine tailings, or fly ash (from www.aacstructures.com). AAC was invented in the 1900s in Sweden, and has been widely used in Europe for over 70 years. It is environmentally friendly, as the manufacturing process produces only water as waste and uses 80% less energy than lumber or concrete manufacturing. And since it uses waste products from other industries, it helps clean up the environment too. Other great things about AAC are that it is fire-resistant, termite-resistant (of course), energy-efficient, and highly cost-effective. Most of the homes in Mixson will be constructed of AAC.

What does Energy Star mean?

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that identifies energy efficient products, from computers to office equipment to windows. Each Mixson home will achieve the Energy Star rating, which covers insulation, windows, energy-efficient products, and tight construction and ducts, among other criteria.

Filed under: Charleston SC Green Living, FAQ, Urban Sustainability on January 21st, 2008