Neighborhood Styles

Americans love their cars.  Because we love our cars, street engineers are constantly looking for ways to improve traffic flow, to build bigger and better freeways, and give us more efficient systems for getting from here to there.  When we choose our homes, however, we don't love our cars.  We want areas with minimal traffic.  We want to be away from traffic noise and the bustle of freeways.  The dilemma is how to solve the problem of quiet community neighborhoods with ease of commuting to the work place.

The perfect solution to this dilemma appeared at one time to be the cul-de-sac, putting homes in a sack with only one road in or out!  The definition of cul-de-sac is

• a street, lane, etc., closed at one end; blind alley; dead-end street
• any situation in which further progress is impossible.
• the hemming in of a military force on all sides except behind.

The cul-de-sac limits through traffic because it is closed at the end.  It is a destination only, not a place to drive by.  From the air it may appear one trunk road comes into the area and branches go off from the trunk to several different culs-de-sac (That's the correct plural according to the definition above!).  Culs-de-sac also allow development in areas that have wetlands or other natural barriers that can prove challenging for developers.

According to NPR, buyers are willing to pay up to 20% more for a house on a cul-de-sac.  The perception is that culs-de-sac are safer.  The children can ride round and round the circle at the end of the street and not worry about busy traffic.  Regrettably, the same NPR publication states that culs-de-sac have the highest rate of traffic accidents involving young children under 5 being hit or backed over by a car.  By extrapolation the child would be hit or backed over by a family member or neighbor, instead of a stranger.  The thought is gut wrenching.

Some communities are moving away from culs-de-sac.  It's thought that communities designed around culs-de-sac discourage walking to destinations and increase the amount of car use.  The newest "planned" communities actually have whole neighborhoods with only a couple entrances and exits from the community.  These neighorhoods are connected with walk paths throughout the neighborhood that can be used for strolling, walking to the local market or coffee shop, or going to the community park and/or pool.   The emphasis is on sidewalks, porches, and walking.  (Sounds a little bit like the way things were built in the old days in St. Paul!)

I can't help but compare the two styles of development.  Culs-de-sac would encourage community with the 5 or 6 immediate cul-de-sac neighbors, but might discourage knowing your neighbors beyond that.  A false sense of safety might encourage parents to allow children to "play in the streets" without teaching them to watch for traffic; or the children may become lazy regarding parental warnings because traffic seldom comes by.   Culs-de-sac have no local community gathering spots to encourage community.  Sidewalks are absent requiring walkers to walk in the street or on someone's yard.  The new planned communities encourage greater community interaction by providing venues for walking and moving out of one's own street.  Sidewalks make walking safety a priority.  Destination spots for walkers are provided.  The greater community gets to recognize one another and look out for one another.  Children ride their bikes on the sidewalks or on bike paths.  It will be interesting to see the results if statistical comparisons are ever made.

Comments

[Teresa Boardman]

June 13, 2006 -

My clients tell me that living on a cul-de-sac is wonderful, Like a small neighborhood. I read an article about Feng Shui and the cul-de-sac that might be of interest to your readers. From Realty Times Feng Shui for the Ugly American Homebuyer
by Kate Kemp "FENG SHUI TIP #3: "Avoid any streets pointing directly at the house. If you're in a cul-de-sac, you want a home in the center because if people drive in they'll be pointed at you. You also don't want a house at the end of a street. The energy is bad." TRANSLATED: If you do live in the center of a cul-de-sac or at the dead end of a street, you'll always have headlights shining in your living room at night. People are more likely to be nosy if your windows are open, and they're at a stop sign in front of your open windows than if they're just driving by. "

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