Monday, October 29, 2007

Birkdale Village New Urbanism Case Study

What a neat looking map of the Birkdale Communities? I found this map on a website that posted a UNC Watershed Assessment of the Birkdale Village Community. Some interesting facts are that Birkdale has 6.2 Units per acre (really 7.2 units per acre if one discounts the fact that 7.4 acres are dedicated as McDowell Creek watershed. Overall, the study was favorable of Birkdale's high density walking community. It's one critique of the site plan is that Birkdale Village's 8 acres of parking lots creates significant run off that can be easily contaminated with oil and other pollutants. What was interesting is the note that someday (not before 2010) the parking lots may be built on for additional store fronts and apartments. That would be interesting especially if more parking was added in semi-hidden parking structures.
I wonder if or when that would happen. Would the town let it?

Anyways, enjoy the map and the knowledge that the case study's author thinks that Birkdale Village is a great success.

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