10 April 2011

Pocket Neighborhoods

Looks terrible - I think I'd rather stick with suburban sprawl...



Sourced from Pocke
t Neighborhoods, April 2011

'Pocket neighborhoods are clustered groups of neighboring houses or apartments gathered around some sort of shared open space — a garden courtyard, a pedestrian street, a series of joined backyards, or a reclaimed alley — all of which have a clear sense of territory and shared stewardship. They can be in urban, suburban or rural areas.

The fabric of social health in our society has been fraying, in part because many people lack networks of personal and social support. Family members can be spread across the country, friends live across town, and neighbors don’t know one another. A listening ear or helping hand is not available when it’s most needed.

Pocket neighborhoods can help mend a web of belonging, care and support. Their protected setting encourages informal interaction among neighbors, laying the ground for caring relationships. An elderly neighbor may need assistance trimming a hedge. Another needs help looking after the kids while going for a short errand, or feeding a cat while away on vacation. Nearby neighbors are the ones most available to respond to daily needs. They are also the ones to hear a story, admire a newly planted garden bed, or reminisce about old times. All of these encounters strengthen webs of support and friendship, which are the basis for healthy, livable communities.'

2 comments:

  1. I don't think it looks terrible... The idea of pocket neighbourhoods seems entirely valid to me and, on the basis of the definitions/descriptions on the their (Pocket Neighbourhood) website, Christie Walk is a good example of a pocket neighbourhood!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Paul! I should have included in there to denote I was being sarcastic! Sprawl is appalling and this is somewhere I imagine a lot of people would love to live.

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