Press Room

FAQ: Urban Village

What is an “urban village”?

Vibrant cities throughout history have been successful because they have included a mix of uses in a compact, pedestrian-friendly form. The idea of building housing near retail and business is not new; it is, in fact, the natural pattern of urban growth that creates lively, diverse neighborhoods with a cohesive sense of community.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, the increasingly cheap supply of land and the affordability of the automobile spurred an exodus from American cities to “suburbia.” This suburban growth ignored traditional urban design and resulted in what we now call sprawl. Sprawl is an unhealthy growth pattern that spreads people far away from each other, work, and recreation, thus requiring long commutes that pollute the environment and eat away people’s time to socialize.

The urban village is based on a traditional neighborhood model of dense, mixed-use development with pedestrian-friendly streets, numerous nearby amenities, defined open space, connections to mass transit, and a style that respects the character of the region. Urban villages represent a return to healthy urban growth and aim to:

• Improve the quality of life for residents and tenants
• Create a healthy economic and natural environment
• Decrease the dependence on cars

Why an urban village in Eugene?

As Oregon’s third largest city and the “Greenest City in America,*” Eugene is poised to become the regional leader in sustainable design and urban planning. As Eugene’s first urban village, Crescent Village will become a vibrant, sustainable community that reflects Eugene’s unique values and culture and serves as an innovative model for responsible growth.

How do urban villages contribute to an improved quality of life?

In addition to reducing dependence on the automobile, urban villages like Crescent Village create neighborhoods that foster an enhanced sense of community. Arlie & Company is working to make Crescent Village a place where wide sidewalks, inviting urban parks and plazas, and pedestrian-friendly streets create a lively atmosphere where people can meet, share experiences, and develop friendships and memories. We will achieve this by:

• Designing a compact, well-planned village that utilizes land and resources efficiently and retains a sense of openness and livability.
• Using fewer and more efficient roads and utilities to preserve open space and conserve resources.
• Mixing housing, commercial, retail, and recreational uses to create a lively, socially diverse community in which residents and employees can take care of many daily activities within walking distance.
• Creating a pedestrian-friendly site design with integrated bus stops and bike racks to reduce reliance on automobiles and promote the use of mass transit, thus reducing traffic congestion and emissions.
• Designing and detailing buildings, streets, and open spaces at the “human scale” to enhance the pedestrian experience.

Who lives in an urban village?

Crescent Village will offer a broad range of high-quality housing types to accommodate people of various ages, lifestyles, and incomes. With housing choices that will include studio to three bedroom penthouse urban apartments and condominiums, garden apartments, and single-family rowhouses and town homes, Crescent Village will be home to a diverse population of residents. Because of this diversity, Crescent Village will become a healthy, authentic neighborhood that can meet the needs of everyone: young, single professionals, families, active retired couples, and everyone in between.

What are the advantages of an urban village?

Because urban villages include a mix of housing, retail shops and services, office space, and integrated parks, they become flourishing centers for living, working, shopping, and recreation. Crescent Village will be no exception. Guided by the principles of new urbanism, Crescent Village will be a place where people can walk to local shops, dine in excellent restaurants right around the corner from home, and get to know their neighbors: a true, traditional neighborhood.

Unlike typical suburban sprawl, which is built to accommodate the car, the urban village focuses on accommodating people. Crescent Village will offer residents and visitors the amenities they most desire: reasonable commutes, opportunities to socialize, sustainable design, housing choices, and commercial, recreational, and civic amenities within walking distance of each other. Residents will be able to choose from a wide variety of housing types to suit many lifestyles and enjoy excellent shopping and dining opportunities in Crescent Village’s vibrant Town Center-a lively and convenient destination for the entire Eugene/Springfield community.

* The Green Guide’s Report on America’s Greenest Cities. www.thegreenguide.com ».