Bringing Traditional Neighborhood Design to NKY

Do communities based upon walkable, Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) sell? That question will be answered at the Growing Livable Communities Workshop on June 12-13 at Simon Kenton High School in Independence.

National and regional experts on the business of creating livable communities will speak about how incorporating specific design strategies can not only improve the health of residents, but also the economic health of developers, builders, and municipalities. The Thursday evening session is targeted to Northern Kentucky residents, while the Friday session is geared toward land development stakeholders. Seventy-five attended a similar event presented by the Boone County Fiscal Court in March.

"I was encouraged by the response in Boone County and I am encouraged by the registration response we have had for our upcoming workshop," says Mary Singler, health promotion manager of event partner Northern Kentucky Health Department.  "I think Northern Kentucky developers and builders are somewhat open to the idea – but they really need to see the numbers before they change the template that has traditionally worked."

Singler says that her work with citizens groups revealed a lack of understanding about how TND can be implemented into new development.

"We don’t have good models of new developments using TND principles," she says.  "So officials and developers don’t have and understanding of the principles behind livable communities – or a process of how to get there."

Singler says that TND fits with her department's mission. "The same TND design that promotes walking also improves water and air quality," she says.  "And if people walk to the library, store, or school it reduces emissions from cars.  We also know that crime is less in communities that have 'eyes on the street'."

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Mary Singler, health promotion manager, Northern Kentucky Health Department
Photography by Scott Beseler