Walkability
Habersham’s Town Center is just a short walk from neighborhood residences
A walkable community is one where residents can easily access essential services, amenities, and destinations on foot or by bike. In Habersham, we have been committed to making walkability a key aspect of our development. This includes providing safe and accessible sidewalks, street design that reduces vehicular speeds, and buffered lot setbacks; as well as promoting mixed-use housing and preserving the character of the existing environment. By designing and building a walkable neighborhood, we have created a more livable and sustainable community for our residents, making the streets safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists. To further this goal, our town planners purposely designed rear alleyways, parking spaces, and garages to lessen the presence of automobiles on neighborhood streets. This also plays a large part in the curb appeal and prominent front porches that our residents cherish as hallmarks of a “Habersham home.”
The benefits of walkability extend far beyond just promoting physical activity. For example, walkable neighborhoods have:
Improved public health by reducing obesity and related diseases
Enhanced the social fabric of the community by promoting social interactions
Improved the environment by reducing traffic congestion, pollution, and dependency on automobiles
Boosted local economy by supporting town center businesses and increasing property values
In addition to Habersham, some examples of highly walkable planned residential developments in the United States include:
Celebration, FL: Developed by the Walt Disney Company, Celebration is a master-planned community in Florida with a strong emphasis on walkability, with a town center featuring a mix of residential, commercial, and civic uses.
Kentlands, MD: Kentlands is a planned community in Maryland that was one of the first developments in the United States to incorporate New Urbanist principles, including walkable streets, mixed-use development, and a mix of housing types.
Seaside, FL: Developed by architects Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Seaside is a beachfront community in Florida that is known for its walkable streets, mixed-use development, and traditional architectural style.
The importance of walkability in enhancing the quality of life in a community cannot be overstated, and Habersham stands as a shining example of this principle in action. Through our commitment to walkable design, we aim to set a precedent for other developments to follow and inspire them to prioritize walkability in their own communities.