The Concept Behind Rouzan

Q: What exactly is a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND)?

A: A TND includes diverse housing types, mixed-use buildings, civic buildings, parks and green spaces within a discernible boundary.

During the past 20 years, this has become a popular design approach for new developments throughout the country. Many experts feel traditional neighborhoods better suit today's fast-paced lifestyles. Their designs generally include schools, community services, green spaces and meeting facilities all within walking distance of your home.

With many of their daily needs close by, families often spend far less time commuting or chauffeuring children, and more time together with family and friends. These neighborhoods satisfy residents' desire for a better quality of life, while the higher level of craftsmanship and materials for their home helps to lower lifetime maintenance costs.

Q: Why have TNDs become so popular?

A: Homebuyers of all ages and incomes across the country are finding TNDs preferable to suburban sprawl with long commutes and little time left at the end of the day for recreation, relaxation and socializing.

In a TND, residents can easily move about their community via walking paths and narrower streets that are connected to existing streets. Narrower, curving streets help to guard against a plethora of traffic and motorists traveling at high speeds. Homes in a TND are closer to the streets and feature spacious front porches so residents can relax, enjoy talking with neighbors or just watch the children play. Lifestyle options such as walking, biking, recreation and household services will be right outside one's door-not a commute across town. Homes are located with precision and designed to create many vantage points over the street; this "eyes on the street" strategy helps to increase security throughout the community.

Some amenities are difficult to describe and must be experienced to be fully understood. Take the idea of the street as an amenity. In a conventional suburban subdivision, this is a completely foreign concept. In a TND, the combination of mature street trees, wide sidewalks and a series of homes with front porches create an "outdoor room." This is a calm and inviting space that pedestrians on the sidewalk and homeowners alike intrinsically "feel," even though they may not be able to articulate it. And that's just one example of how much better TNDs are for people and their families.

Q: Why a TND instead of a typical A-1 neighborhood?

A: Since the 1950s, cities throughout America have seen the proliferation of neighborhoods zoned A-1. Typically, these communities feature wide streets without sidewalks, emphasize floor plans and lot sizes, and have few if any parks and green spaces.

The benefits of a TND

Traditional neighborhoods are becoming a viable and highly sought-after alternative in many parts of the country. The reasons are compelling:

  • Exterior architectural style, craftsmanship and community amenities are emphasized and complement each other.
  • Rather than segregating, traditional neighborhoods integrate most components of life-such as various housing options, schools, retail and commercial uses, medical care and other services, and civic buildings such as libraries and churches-and places them within walking distance of most homes to create and nurture a unique character that gets better with age.
  • The design of streets and sidewalks encourages walking and bicycle riding. Street trees soar over roadways, providing a picturesque view for residents and visitors. Multiple access points to existing streets help divert incoming and outgoing traffic away from the major roads; contrary to popular perception, this actually decreases traffic congestion.
  • Playgrounds, parks and green spaces are strategically integrated into the design, as opposed to being relegated to leftover space. In addition, common area maintenance is provided.

Q: Are TNDs right for Baton Rouge?

A: Baton Rouge needs more than a new subdivision to help ease the burden of its growing population. As we all know, traffic congestion has reached new levels. Moving more people to a conventional A-1 subdivision in the heart of the city would only aggravate that issue.

The challenge of growth and how to accommodate it is not unique to Baton Rouge. It's an issue with which virtually every city of size in the country is grappling. One by one, they're discovering that "business as usual" is not the best answer.

Rouzan is an attractive alternative. Rouzan is about building a genuine community. It not only provides residents with a highly desirable place to live, but the very design is structured to reduce their need to get in their car and drive. Its design-wide sidewalks, spacious front porches, parks and gathering spaces, human-scaled places-actually encourages neighbors to meet each other, which strengthens the foundation of any community.