Your Studio KOHLER Workspace
Your Studio KOHLER Workspace
Planned communities in the United States carry the legacy of carefully crafted neighborhoods that cater to the lifestyles of their residents.
The intentional design of these communities throughout the country has, over time, allowed for everything from preservation of historic landmarks and cultural treasures to the placement of hand-picked amenities in close proximity to where people live, work, and play.
According to real estate technology company HomeLight, the self-contained nature of planned communities prioritizes convenience, variety, and accessibility. These communities are different from traditional suburban neighborhoods in how the land is mapped out, with forethought given to the activities and preferences of the individuals and families who move in and make the areas home.
The St. Augustine Historical Society cites St. Augustine in Florida as the earliest example of 16th-century European town planning in the continental United States. Influences on the early city’s development stem from the 1573 ordinances on the planning of new cities by King Philip II of Spain. “The plaza is at the center of the downtown core,” says Julie Courtney, Historic Preservation Officer for the City of St. Augustine’s Planning and Building Department. “We still have a Spanish fort that is right on the water, we have the waterfront the city was built on, and beautiful vistas and views.” Construction going up in St. Augustine now is restricted to 35 feet high. “It’s part of the zoning ordinance, for the buildings to not be swallowed up by modern architecture,” Courtney explains.
St. Augustine contains five local historic preservation zoning districts including and extending out from its colonial core. The Historic Preservation Comprehensive Plan focuses on protecting the city environment’s historic resources while promoting an authentic and livable community — a concrete approach the city has taken to preserving its features since the early 1900s. In its historic districts, the city applies architectural guidelines that support preservation while keeping with the stylistic choices of residents. For example, Courtney explains, preapproved shades of pink for building exteriors are categorized by style and era, but a wide selection is on offer within those parameters.
The village of Kohler in Wisconsin is one of the country’s oldest planned communities
The village of Kohler in Wisconsin is one of the country’s oldest planned communities
From Florida to Arizona and Wisconsin, many planned communities in the USA remain dedicated to the original visions of their founders: to build resilient and vibrant communities.
_____By Kara Patterson
The village of Kohler in Wisconsin is one of the country’s oldest planned communities
The village of Kohler in Wisconsin is one of the country’s oldest planned communities
Another of the country’s oldest planned communities is the village of Kohler in Wisconsin, known as a “garden community at the factory gate,” which is home to the Kohler Co. headquarters and the hospitality and real estate development Destination Kohler. In 1917, leading landscape architects the Olmsted Brothers, whose firm designed Central Park in New York City, took inspiration from European garden cities to help devise a 50-year master plan for the village of Kohler that maximized the use of green spaces. It was the vision of Walter J. Kohler Sr., son of company founder John Michael Kohler, to make those green spaces accessible to employees. It was Walter who famously said, “Workers deserve not only wages, but roses as well.”
In 1977, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation established guidelines for the village’s second 50-year plan, including woodland and wetland preservation, which the late Herbert V. Kohler Jr. was instrumental in implementing. “The village is about creating a sense of community, using the natural landscapes as gathering landmarks for all to enjoy,” says Angela Miller, Kohler Co.’s Manager of Archives & Heritage Communications.
A more recent example of a planned community in the U.S. is Vistancia in Peoria, Arizona. Dedication to the original vision for the 7,100-acre master-planned community has been vital to the success of the community over the two decades since construction began in 2002. This includes taking advantage of the surrounding natural landscape — the Sonoran Desert — and placing high priority on other outdoor amenities such as the community’s signature feature, the 3.5-mile Discovery Trail.
This paved walking, running, and biking trail connects Vistancia’s four distinctive lifestyle communities and brings residents together for recreation opportunities. It’s a destination in itself but it’s also a means to get from point A to point B, as the trail links neighborhoods to schools and other high-traffic community touchstones. According to Mark Hammons, Vistancia’s Vice President and General Manager, central to Vistancia’s long-term development plan is the creation of a lifestyle that celebrates the Sonoran Desert that surrounds the master plan. “It’s what makes the Vistancia community unique, and why so many residents are proud to call Vistancia home,” he says.
Vistancia in Arizona was designed to take advantage of the surrounding natural landscape and emphasize outdoor amenities. Image courtesy of Vistancia Development LLC
Vistancia in Arizona was designed to take advantage of the surrounding natural landscape and emphasize outdoor amenities. Image courtesy of Vistancia Development LLC
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