The sameness of new urbanism

As you look on this site at the pictures of revitalized downtowns and new mixed-use products, or walk through modern Bay Area communities, you begin to notice a certain sameness to these cities -- curbside parking sure, wide sidewalks, and other attributes of pedestrian-friendly cities. But at the same time, the commonality seems to be extending to the design of the buildings and streetscapes - brick sidewalks, tree planters at crosswalks, stucco buildings with street-level retail and offices or residential on subsequent floors, never exceeding 3 or 4 stories. One can't help but wonder if in a few years we'll all be tired by the sameness of design between each of the towns. Given that we're only a few years into the "new urbanism movement," it's scary to think the cities embrassing new urbanism are already feeling common. Perhaps what we need is more diversity not only in product design, but equally in the land use and regional considerations.

Cities and towns with water features should look to their water features as integral parts of the town both in design and use -- boat launches, waterfront parks, beaches. Suburbs of large cities could offer services and amenities not necessarily available in a more dense environment - automobile dealerships, antique and furniture stores. The size, shape, and feel of the products within cities must be different from one another or within only a few years the template suburban shopping malls of today will only be replaced by template "new urbanist" shopping malls which will each feel the same as one another. Diversity in city design must be embraced on every aspect. Every small city in the Bay Area shouldn't look and feel the same as the next, and equally a small city in California's mild climate shouldn't look and feel the same as a small city in New England with more extreme temperatures and a different population with different expectations and needs.