CNU NEW ENGLAND 2007 ANNUAL AWARDS

The CNU New England Awards recognize the best of new urbanist plans, programs, designs, and projects based upon the principles set forth in the Charter of the New Urbanism. This awards program, initiated at CNU XIV in Providence in 2006, is intended to enhance the overall quality of planning and development and to raise awareness within the New England region about the role of new urbanism in addressing the region’s challenges.

2007 CNU NEW ENGLAND AWARDS JURY

• Angus Jennings, Concord Square Development, Boston, MA (co-chair)
• John Tittmann, Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Inc., Boston, MA (co-chair)
• Darlene Wynne, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. Watertown, MA (co-chair)
• Kurt Gaertner, Mass. Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Boston, MA
• Evan Mathews, Rhode Island Economic Development Council, Providence, RI
• Robert Orr, Robert Orr & Associates, New Haven, CT
• Christopher Parker, City of Dover, NH, Dover, NH
• Douglas Storrs, Cornish & Associates, Providence, RI

For the 2nd Annual CNU New England Awards the jury selected three outstanding examples of New Urbanism in practice in New England. These projects are diverse—one set in an agricultural landscape, another in a traditional New England town center, and the third on an urban infill site in one of New England’s cities. However, each of these projects shares a common commitment to first-rate placemaking and to the community-strengthening principles of the Charter. The jury is pleased to honor the following projects with 2007 CNU New England Awards:

Southport Green (Southport, Connecticut)
Charrette Team: Robert Orr & Associates, John Massengale, Patrick Pinnell,
Michael Morrissey, and Milton Grenfell; Construction documents: Barton Associates

This Transit Oriented Development (TOD) consists of a variety of housing types, office space, a locally based inn, a spa, a five-star restaurant, and a post office oriented around an intimate neighborhood green in the historic village of Southport. It blends in seamlessly with its surrounding context in scale and style. The project is pedestrian-friendly, located one block from the commuter rail, two blocks from the village retail center and four blocks from the harbor. This project is unique in that it was driven by residents who purchased and developed the property to prevent a another proposal that did not meet the town’s needs. The planning was guided by a desire for “timelessness” and driven by the residents’ strong wish to preserve their picturesque village center and ensure that the built projects almost imperceptibly blend into the historic neighborhood—a goal the jury found this site design achieved with excellence.

Sandywoods Farm (Tiverton, Rhode Island)
Donald Powers Architects

The plan for this affordable artists’ community was inspired by historic examples and regional precedents from rural New England; thus, this plan speaks to the vernacular character to which many of our current New Urbanist plans aspire, although in a rural setting. The project team was challenged to design a community of 73 residential units in this rural greenfield setting and yet respect the context of the surroundings—a truly agrarian community. The site plan incorporates acres of active agricultural land (much of it permanently protected), market rate housing, artists’ affordable cooperative housing, common open space, and a small mixed-use node or “crossroads” containing agricultural and artist retail. In granting this project an award the jury recognized that greenfield development, while not ideal, will occur and is best based on the Charter. Furthermore, while the jury understands the financial reasons for not doing so, we encourage mixed-income housing to be dispersed on a site. The jury recognizes this project’s potential to be a model for small-scale rural urbanism.

Shartenberg Block Redevelopment Plan (New Haven, Connecticut)
Robert Orr & Associates and David Carrico (renderings)

Although this project will very likely never be built, the jury believes that this plan for an urban infill site strongly represents the values espoused by the Charter. The plan proposes a superbly designed project containing 163 residential units, 70,000 SF of retail and commercial space, parking, and community space, all on a 1.7-acre site. Other amenities include a pocket park and a paseo, connecting the buildings internally on the site. The architectural design—varied in density and treatment—pays tribute to the existing New Haven fabric including nearby historic districts. It also subtly accommodates the modern realities of parking and energy efficiency. Unfortunately, the City of New Haven selected a 32-story, 420-unit housing tower with only 25,000 square feet of retail space for the site. File this one under “missed opportunity.”