Conscious Living

Another idea I am not going to run out and do, but cool, I think, nonetheless.

I want to create a master planned community that encourages resident interaction, is fully desert landscaped, has an open-space feeling and encourages outdoor activity, especially walking.

My community would incorporate something I heard another community, near Estrella mountains, is already doing. Instead of walls around the community and around the yards there would be desert-landscaped berms. You would still have privacy, but it would be more aesthetically appealing and less intrusive than brick walls. I propose smaller houses on larger lots with covered, open front patios and fully desert landscaped yards.

In the center of the community there would be small, euro style grocery and hardware stores. There would of course be a coffee shop, preferably independent but I would be okay with Starbucks, a couple of restaurants and maybe even boutiques, chiropractors and other services.

Delivery trucks would come in on a main thoroughfare, which would probably cut down one end of the community, and deliver to the back of the stores. The stores would likely be in one or two large shared buildings to make delivery access easier. Maybe even two-three stories of mixed use. The front of the stores would face a large open pavilion blocked off for pedestrian and bike traffic only. There would be auto parking on the edges around the pavilion.

I think there should be athletic facilities, maybe even a club like LA Fitness (obviously it would need to be a big place), a community/meeting/business center, lots of open spaces and a park.

Paved pedestrian paths would wind throughout the community and all the streets would have bike lanes. The pedestrian paths would lead to the city center and connect with paths that link other similar master communities together.

Ideally, there would be a hub and spoke system of five or so of these master communities surrounding a larger "town-center" that could be accessed through walking or driving and which contain the chain, big box stores as well as small private boutique style stores and restaurants. All of the business buildings would be multi-floored, mixed use.

Of course, the entire gigantic master planned community would contain some subsidized housing for low income families.


Hmm, ideas, ideas, ideas...