Without seeming too simplistic, there is a grain of truth in feeling nostalgic for the "good old days" in urban planning and our residential communities. Over the course of hundreds of years, we seemed to be getting the right urban mix, to upset it for the past 20 to 30 years – before realizing that we had done it right the first time.
Large homes on even larger blocks in residential enclaves are losing popularity to more integrated communities with a sense of belonging and belonging.
Planners were previously obsessed with separating land uses to minimize conflicts between uses. The accommodation was in part of the suburbs, with shopping centers and business parks only accessible by car, which created isolated communities, with people forced to drive everywhere. Since most uses of contemporary land are compatible, we now expect them to coexist.
The streets have become mainly designed for cars and not for people. Huge houses taking all the imprint of massive blocks meant that people were left alone and internalized life, rather than congregating in community centers.
Now people are looking for a return to a good old-fashioned community life, with connected walking paths leading to neighborhood squares or urban squares (gathering places), with schools, shops, restaurants, cafes and community facilities within walking distance. We don't want to drive so much, and exercise is becoming more and more popular.
We have seen more urban places develop outside of downtown areas in recent years, and with new ways of getting around, such as electric bikes, electric scooters and trams without way, the concept will become even more popular. In other words, we are urbanizing the "buds".
The mixed-use neighborhoods based on public transportation, compact and accessible on foot are back. The most progressive contemporary urban neighborhoods of the future will contain a diverse range of housing types, with more modest, smaller and affordable homes framed around mixed-use community hubs, including green space, amenities, shops and health facilities.
With the rising cost of owning a car and the negative environmental impact, many young people postpone or do not obtain their driver's license and, in turn, seek connected communities close to transportation centers if they have to commute to work, and within walking or biking distance of all their daily needs.
In Europe, urban centers are increasingly becoming car-free areas, and there is no reason why the model does not exist in Australia. Many young people are already choosing where to live using Walk Score, an application increasingly used in the United States and Australia that classifies the ease of walking from your home to schools, shops, parks, jobs and public transportation, with a score out of 100. A The walking score of 70 is the threshold for not having to own a car, which can save you more than $ 10,000 a year – and pay off nearly $ 100,000 from a mortgage. .
Housing estates move "into the future", like Marty McFly's Hill Valley in the 1950s and 2015. If you want to invest in the realm of the future, focus on community, convenience and convenience. accessibility. And until hoverboards become a reality, we can use electric bikes.
Mike Day is co-founder and director of the urban development consultancy RobertsDay, member of the Planning Institute of Australia and recipient of the Russell Taylor Award for Design Excellence
Main suburbs:
fig wood
,
Alexandria
,
new city
,
Hebersham
,
Coburg North
Get help with your investment property
Do you need help finding the right loan for your investment?
When investing in a property, it is important to make sure that you don't just have
Just fill in a few details below and we will then arrange a local Australian mortgage broker to contact you and work on what features or types of loans suit your needs. We will even help you with the paperwork. In addition, an appointment is free.
We value your privacy and treat all of your information seriously – you can check
our privacy policy here
