Berry is quick to note that the movement “is the hottest thing” in Durango right now. But while it has been labeled “trendy” and “fresh,” Berry adds that it has been around for more than two decades, and that it’s Durango that’s just coming up to the times.”

“It’s a concept that definitely got really popular in the late ’80s and early ’90s but didn’t trickle in here until recently,” she says.

Andrea Mayer, director of planning for G.C. Wallace, a Sacramento, Calif., development firm, says she has been involved in New Urbanism developments for the past 15 years. She says that with that history under her belt, she can confidently say that New Urbanism has generally had a positive impact on northern California. “It’s a tradition toward getting away from totally car-oriented neighborhoods,” she says. “It’s definitely here to stay, but it’s constantly evolving.”
She says New Urbanism is a lofty goal and getting there can be a daunting task. In particular, she notes that getting communities to accept the density that makes such projects go can be difficult. “Generally, doing these kinds of projects is challenging because of neighborhood opposition or a lack of understanding of benefits,” Mayer says. “To a lot of people, high density means blight. That’s a misconception that’s eventually overcome.”

Mayer also adds that quality New Urbanism projects are expensive undertakings and frequently cut into a developer’s profit margin. “There are always a lot of unexpected costs, and the project often takes twice as long as anyone expects,” she says. “There are very few developers who can make it work.”

Devil's in the details

In Colorado, the town of Mt. Crested Butte recently built its first New Urbanism development, a mixed-use township called Pitchfork. While the concept was good on paper, the devil was in the details for planners.

“It’s tough up here because New Urbanism and topography don’t always mix,” says Steve Westbay, town planner, of the steep hillside on which the 63-unit development is perched. “It’s tough to get high density in tight areas. It’s a hell of a lot easier doing it in a corn field.”

Planners in Mt. Crested Butte also are already looking at sacrificing some of Pitchfork’s community elements, notably a chapel and park, to facilitate basics like snow and garbage removal.

“The concepts are great,” says Westbay. “But you’ve got to look at what kinds of mixed use you’re going for and what the realities of the property are.”
Durango by no means has blinders on as it approaches this wave of New Urbanism. Berry comments that these kinds of developments can become elitist and that finding the right mix of commercial and residential can be tricky. However, above all, she notes that New Urbanism aspires toward traditional townships over a developer’s brief timeline.

“It tends to be a recipe,” she says. “Durango’s old town character developed over 100 years, whereas (developers) want it right now. Sometimes it’s hard to get that authentic feel in New Urbanism developments.”

Janet Wiley says that these hurdles will be well worth the final product.
“In this day and age, we need to think not so much about quantity but quality,” Wiley concludes. “I think if we could do more of these types of developments, we could reduce our sprawl, our traffic and our pollution and increase the quality of Durango.”