a very special place

Why Are We Doing This?

Some people may wonder why we believe so strongly in what we are doing here at The Village of Turner Trace.  The answer is really quite simple.

Architecture and land planning, like all other elements of Culture, grow from our collective experiences as people.  We as Americans have always faced the challenge of having to create our own particular architecture and land planning styles and philosophies. Our particular set of circumstances, like any other culture, are unique, and therefore help create or direct our design Philosophies.

It is often difficult to recognize what influences and directs planning decisions.  Most people never question why subdivision streets are so wide, why lots are so wide, why front porches have all but disappeared and garage doors have replaced them as the most predominant element of design today, why land uses are separated, why property taxes are so high, why most subdivisions look alike, or why they don't have much free time with the family.  The answer to many of these questions and problems is that we Americans have been designing our environment for the automobile, and not for people.

If you have ever wanted to slow cars down in residential areas making them less of a threat to children and the elderly, if you have wanted to spend less time maintaining your house and yard, if you have wanted to get to know your neighbors for social and safety reasons, yet maintain your privacy, if you want to reduce property taxes, if you enjoy a variety of housing types and life styles, if you enjoy walking to church or the store or the restaurant, if you want to spend more time with your family and less time in your car commuting, then we need to design towns for people and not for cars.

Have you ever wondered why we are so drawn to quaint New England villages, or Georgetown, or Savannah, or New Orleans, or even to Nashville, Indiana?  Those towns were built for people before the influence of the automobile.  We need to return to the classic and timeless philosophy of town planning that works for People.

To do that, we must have a set of Principles, and a Philosophy of Design, that allow our towns to de-emphasize the automobile, and work for people. This is our Vision. The Village of Turner Trace is the fulfillment of that Vision.

What we build is important.  It is important to us, and to future generations.