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A neighborhood can be based on a specific plan or the result of a more organic process.
Neighborhoods of different kinds are eligible — downtown, urban, suburban, exurban, town, small village — but should have a definable sense of boundary.
Neighborhoods selected for a Great Neighborhood designation must be at least 10 years old.
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Characteristics and Guidelines for Designation of Great Neighborhoods
Description of the Neighborhood
It is important to identify the geographic, demographic, and social characteristics of the neighborhood. Tell us about its location (i.e. urban, suburban, rural, etc.), density (i.e. dwelling units per acre), or street layout and connectivity; economic, social, and ethnic diversity; and functionality (i.e. residential, commercial, retail, etc.). We also want to know whether a plan or specific planning efforts contributed to or sustained the character of the neighborhood, or if the neighborhood formed more organically and not through a formal planning process.
For a more complete list of descriptive characteristics, please click here.
Neighborhood Form and Composition
How does the neighborhood ...
Capitalize on building design, scale, architecture, and proportionality to create interesting visual experiences, vistas, or other qualities?
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Accommodate multiple users and provide access (via walking, bicycling, or public transit) to multiple destinations that serve its residents?
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Foster social interaction and create a sense of community and neighborliness? |
Promote security from crime is made safe for children and other users (i.e. traffic calming, other measures)?
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Use, protect, and enhance the environment and natural features?
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Neighborhood Character and Personality
How does the neighborhood ...
Reflect the community's local character and set itself apart from other neighborhoods?
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Retain, interpret, and use local history to help create a sense of place?
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Neighborhood Environment and Sustainable Practices
How does the neighborhood ...
Promote or protect air and water quality, protect groundwater resources, and respond to the growing threat of climate change? What forms of "green infrastructure" are used (e.g., local tree cover mitigating heat gain)?
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Utilize measures or practices to protect or enhance local biodiversity or the local environment?
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Click here for a more detailed discussion on these and other guidelines.
And don't forget to visit our E-communities page to offer your suggestions and comments.
Credits: 1. Mixed-use street in San Francisco, photo by Patrick David Barber, courtesy of www.pedbikeimages.org;
2. Bus stop in Portland, Oregon, photo courtesy of the City of Portland Bureau of Planning;
3. Outdoor café in Easton Town Center, Columbus, Ohio, photo by Dan Burden, courtesy of www.pedbikeimages.org;
4. Kids crossing street in Portland, Oregon, photo by Portland Office of Transportation, courtesy of www.pedbikeimages.org;
5. Lewis and Clark Riverfront Park in Atchison, Kansas, photo courtesy of Atchison Daily Globe; 6. Kids in outdoor community water park in Winter Park, Florida, photo by Lindsay Hayes, City of Winter Park;
7. Boston,
photo by Yufeng Guo;
8. Use of green infrastructure in Boston, photo by Yufeng Guo;
9. Green space in San Francisco,
photo by Yufeng Guo.
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