Creating More Sociable Subdivisions

As I was reading the article titled “6 Steps to Creating More Sociable Subdivisions” I started thinking about what makes communities sociable. One key aspect of sociable communities lies in people getting to know their neighbors, and feeling part of the community.  However, what steps are necessary to increase greatly the chances of people interacting with their neighbors on more regular basis. According to the article the six steps that could make subdivisions more sociable are:

----Reducing size of backyard as to encourage activities  such as barbecuing and gardening to the front of the house.
----Discouraging fences and sharing play equipment with neighboring children.
----Transforming driveways into patios as to increase interaction between neighbors.
----Changing the landscaping of front yards to include more vegetation as to make front yards more relaxing and inviting.
----Creating “cluster mailboxes” in new subdivisions as to increase the possibility of neighbors interacting with each other.
----Creating walkable streets composed of wide sidewalks accompanied with trees and plants, and reducing the width of streets as to slow down traffic.

 

Although these suggestions to make subdivisions more sociable are great ideas, I can’t help to wonder which of these suggestions would be more successful in creating more sociable subdivisions. Making front yards the main outdoor gathering places of homes would definitely have an impact on how neighbors interact with each other.  The reasons being that front yards being surrounded by beautiful vegetation would create a more relaxing and inviting setting in which people would feel more comfortable and willing to interact with their neighbors.  Especially if people find themselves sharing the same hobbies such as gardening and reading with their next door neighbors.  The beautification of sidewalks would make the streets even more inviting for everyone.

On the other hand, I feel that even though the idea of “cluster mailboxes” may work, it makes me wonder to what extent it would be increase the sociability aspect of a community.  As an apartment renter I have observed that often times people are more interested with going through their mail than with what is going in their surroundings.  Therefore, I feel that even thought “cluster mailboxes” may increase people’s encounters with other neighbors, there will not be a great increase of quality interaction between neighbors.  However, it would be helpful to keep in mind that all communities are unique in their own ways, and that what may work for some communities.

 

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Source:

Darrin Nordahl, "6 Steps to Creating more Sociable Subdivisions,"  American Planning Association Vol. 73, No. 11 December 2007.