New Urbanism

[tennreb]

Yes, you probably won't find anything like that in Oxford - My issue is, they haven't laid the first brick on this "high-quality construction" and they're already asking $185 - I think we could all agree that as the development progresses and inevitably meets success, property values will rise - Then, will they ask $250-$300? - If they do and people start buying, more power to them - I just have a hard time envisioning that in Taylor, MS, that's all

I'm confused, by purchasing a house in Plein Air, you can enjoy the Square more than, let's say, in Edgewood (next to Lafayette High)?

[sfmartin]

Edgewood? I can't think of anything next to Lafayette High on 334. There is an old subdivision across the street??

[mattdev]

Edgewood? I can't think of anything next to Lafayette High on 334. There is an old subdivision across the street??

[mattdev]

You can get the same environment living in Taylor as you do near the square--the quintessential Southern lifestyle. Have you seen the houses in Edgewood? They are crapola.

[sfmartin]

Traveling south on hwy334, Edgewood is about 1/2 mile past Lafayette High on the left

[tennreb]

I lived in Edgewood my last year of law school - It was early in the developmental stages of the subdivision, so I can only speak for the first 7-8 houses - Having lived there, however, I can assure you they weren't "crapola" - I would agree, though, that Plein Air will likely be much nicer than Edgewood

I couldn't disagree more with your comparison of Taylor and Oxford - Picture yourself living within walking distance of both downtown Oxford and downtown Taylor - Do you really believe you will get the same environment in both places?

[Southron]

It's pleasing to see that New Urbanists are heavily involved in the Katrina rebuilding effort. I look forward to seeing the resulting walkable communities with traditional MS coastal architecture, rather than the horrific sprawl that could have come in the wake of so much destruction.

[tombarnes]

I'm afraid that it remains to be seen whether or not new urbanism will take root on the Mississippi Coast. There are encouraging signs from places like Ocean Springs and Pass Christian, but the die has not yet been cast for the future of these towns. Strong leadership will help.

[tombarnes]

Lost Rabbit Update

The new urbanist town of Lost Rabbit is progressing, however slowly it may appear to some. The cost of building in the town is higher than the local average. It costs about $210.00 per square foot to build here. The town center hasn't really taken shape yet, but houses are springing up along the banks of the reservoir. This is a work in progress and only time will tell if it is ultimately successful. I like the ideas put forth in the planning and development of the townm but I do wonder whether its presence is yet one more drain of $$$ from the central city.

WLBT News 3

[tombarnes]

Tradition Update

A major piece of development will be taking shape on forty acres at Tradition. The Gulfport campus of William Carey University plans to build the first two structures (administrative and classroom buildings) at Tradition. Ground will be broken soon on the buildings. Architecturally, they are not adventurous, but this does not surprise me in a development of this nature. I might have preferred a more daring design. The university plans to build other classroom and ancillary buildings in the future.

The Sun Herald

[tombarnes]

Gulfport Close to Deal With Andres Duany

In perhaps the most important post-Katrina development in recent memory, the city of Gulfport is close to signing a deal with Andres Duany and his firm to create a master plan for Gulfport. If all goes according to plan, Duany and his firm will be responsible for developing a plan for the retention of historic neighborhoods and the development of the VA hospital site. If this is approved, it would represent the most positive step so far in the recoinstruction of the Coast. I hope this goes forward. We should know by the 29th of January.

The Sun Herald

[Southron]

^ I hope this deal goes through. It would be really encouraging to see DPZ at work in Gulfport. Have any other Mississippi coast cities signed New Urbanist firms for post-Katrina master plans?

[tombarnes]

Ocean Springs has probably adopted the plans most compatible with the principles of new urbanism. Pass Christian hasn't yet rebuilt enough to be considered part of this camp. Pascagoula has demonstrated a willingness to rebuild in this mode- at least to some extent. Bay St. Louis has shown promise in this direction, but I haven't seen much in the way of concrete evidence that such ideas are being put into bricks and mortar. This leaves only Biloxi in the staunchly anti-new urbanist mode. It would appear that Biloxi is opening its doors to casino and condo interests without consideration of much other than profit and development. One could possibly say that the new Margaritaville Casino development is an improvement over the usual, but the jury is out until the buildings actually start to come out of the ground. In reality, the new casino will be little more than a theme park with rooms, however cleverly wrought. If DPZ is given the contract in Gulfport, it would be a significant step in the right direction- and an important example for the rest of the Coast (and maybe elsewhere?) to follow.

[tombarnes]

Andres Duany Fires Away...

Andres Duany fired off a few comments in a forum today about the recovery of Gulfport. Mostly, his tart remarks were directed at Biloxi which he declared had "committed urban suicide" in its rush to rebuild. He complimented Gulfport's Mayor Brent Warr and Ocean Springs mayor Connie Moran for their slower pace in rebuilding. While the pace of rebuilding in these two cities has been the result of economics, there is much to be said for the clean slate theory- but only if the slate is used as a template for something better.

The Sun Herald

Biloxi mayor Holloway's acidic response...Was the remark about a personal chef really necessary?

Gulf Coast News

[jcestes4]

Pass Christian recently (within the last couple of weeks) adopted three of four Smart Code plans for the City. Once the fourth is passed, the Smart Code will essentially exist as a full replacement code to the previously existing Euclidean Code.

[tombarnes]

I'm curious about your thoughts on the pace of development in Pass Christian. I don't view the recent announcement of a new WalMart there as good news, though I'm well aware that there are hordes who would disagree with me.

[The Dude]

Andres Duany Fires Away...

Andres Duany fired off a few comments in a forum today about the recovery of Gulfport. Mostly, his tart remarks were directed at Biloxi which he declared had "committed urban suicide" in its rush to rebuild. He complimented Gulfport's Mayor Brent Warr and Ocean Springs mayor Connie Moran for their slower pace in rebuilding. While the pace of rebuilding in these two cities has been the result of economics, there is much to be said for the clean slate theory- but only if the slate is used as a template for something better.

The Sun Herald

Biloxi mayor Holloway's acidic response...Was the remark about a personal chef really necessary?

Gulf Coast News

[tombarnes]

If I was successful as Duany, I'd have a traveling chef as well.

What design conference was this in Gulfport? How the hell did I not know about it?

[The Dude]

I went to Duany's lair down in little havana once and the parking lot was filled with a ton of BMW's and a couple Porche's. Thats a sign of a successful company. People bash the guy all the time; but the fact of the matter is that he knows what the hell he is doing.