The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast
How to Build a Car-Light Neighborhood From Scratch — Even in Texas
Dec 10, 2024
Scott Snodgrass, co-founder of Meristem Communities, shares insights on Indigo, a pioneering car-light neighborhood in suburban Houston. They discuss transforming suburban spaces by prioritizing human-centered design and promoting local agriculture. The conversation tackles challenges of reducing car dependency in a car-centric culture, featuring innovative solutions like pocket neighborhoods. Scott emphasizes the importance of community engagement and sustainable practices as models for future developments, igniting a vision of accessible, walkable living.
36:10
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Quick takeaways
- The Indigo community exemplifies a shift towards pedestrian-friendly living by prioritizing essential services within walking distance, reducing car dependency.
- Challenges in scalability remain for human-centered developments like Indigo, yet there's potential for broader adoption through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Deep dives
Innovative Community Design
Indigo presents a unique approach to community design by prioritizing human needs over vehicular needs. The development features linear parks known as Muse, which replace traditional streets to facilitate walking and biking. This design allows residents to access essential services within a short distance, fostering a pedestrian-friendly environment. The community encourages choices beyond car dependency by offering homes without garages and promoting smaller residences, challenging the typical large home model prevalent in suburban Houston.
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