Ode to New Urbanism
Picture this: A quiet morning sipping coffee on your veranda, followed by a refreshing three-block walk to the office. Relaxed lunch at the cozy corner cafe. A peaceful bike ride at sunset. No traffic. No crowds. Just a lot of familiar faces and friendly neighbors.
This, our friends, is progressive living at its best. But if you’re envisioning the core of downtown living, think again.
Upper East Bay, Mt. Pleasant and even North Charleston are becoming places where new-world progress is melding with old-world Charleston charm. Some have dubbed it New Urbanism. Others say Smart Growth. We just call it cool.
These up-and-coming neighborhoods are redefining the outdated standard of living defined by suburban sprawl. They’re the product of a growing movement among planners and architects to trade in old-school cookie cutouts for freshly compact villages, where daily stops-the office, daycare, the gym, even the grocery store-are all within an easy walk from home.
These mixed-use developments come in different shapes and sizes, but at the core of each is a concept that fosters healthy living, a cleaner environment and a sense of place. We all know about neighborhoods like I’On and Daniel Island, which have won awards for their “live-work-play” models. And now, a new surge of projects-as varied as they are forward-looking-could open the doors of sustainable living to many more Charlestonites.
So you could say we’re a little curious to see how it takes hold here. A few pipeline projects we’re watching:
The Cigar Factory: Really, how cool is this place going to be? If all goes according to plan, the condos-with interior brick walls and 15-foot ceilings-will be an elevator ride away from airy offices, a private rooftop bar, a harbor view pool, an on-site health club, an in-house theatre, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, restaurants and shopping. www.cigarfactorycharleston.com
New Market: The one-building mix of offices, eateries, shops and condos will have some of Charleston’s first “green” roofs, those garden-style rooftops created to help reduce our carbon footprint. www.newmarketcharleston.com
Mixson: This growing maverick of Park Circle is ascribing to a self-proclaimed “less is more” philosophy, with narrower streets and a courtyard built around a 50-year-old oak. We love the online Mixson Market, where residents can swap n’ sell old goods flea market style. www.mixson.com
Carolina Park: Slated to include three million square feet of offices and more than a million square feet of shopping. Plus a hospital, children’s center, restaurants, swimming pools and playgrounds…all to be connected by 17 miles of winding trails and sidewalks and nestled among more than 440 acres of preserved green space and wetlands. www.carolinapark.com
Magnolia: Homes, parks, plazas, work places and waterfront activities will cover 220 acres – all of them walkable. www.magnoliadevelopment.net
Go forth, Charleston Urbanites.
Story by Heather Mueller
