New Town, Missouri

This article is about the community in St. Charles County, for the town located in St. Charles City, see: Newtown, Missouri.
New Town at St. Charles, Missouri

some houses of the New Town area, and their reflections in a lake

Lakeside houses in New Town
Coordinates: 38°50′12″N 90°29′41″W / 38.83656°N 90.49471°W / 38.83656; -90.49471Coordinates: 38°50′12″N 90°29′41″W / 38.83656°N 90.49471°W / 38.83656; -90.49471
Country United States
State Missouri
County St. Charles
Elevation 439.6 ft (134 m)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s) 636
Website http://www.newtownatstcharles.com/

New Town at St. Charles is a partially completed planned community within the city of St. Charles, Missouri. The community's developers espouse the principles of Traditional Neighborhood Design and New Urbanism. New Urbanists designers advocate walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods with relatively high population densities, as an alternative to the urban sprawl of conventional, automobile-centered suburbs.[1] When complete, New Town will cover 755 acres (3.06 km2), will contain up to 5,700 dwellings, and will be one of the largest new urbanist communities in the United States. It is expected to take 12 to 15 years to complete.[2]

Natural environment

New Town is located in northeastern St. Charles County, approximately 18 miles (29 km) from the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. New Town was built on a small natural ridge and is surrounded by low farmland and wetland. The area is home to many species of ducks,[3] cranes, geese, snakes, deer, fish, hawks, and eagles. The Great Rivers Greenway District and Katy Trail State Park both run close by New Town and provide residents access to wildlife.

People standing on a dock at one of the swimming lakes of New Town

In 1993, the Midwest experienced the most severe flood in recent history, and much of St. Charles County was underwater. Because of its higher elevation, little flooding occurred on the future site of New Town. Nevertheless, New Town's developers built a series of lakes and canals for drainage and used the excavated dirt to raise the site's elevation by several feet.

History

Young residents lead off the New Town, St. Charles July 4th parade

Greg Whittaker of Whittaker Builders, Inc.,[4] the architectural firm of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, and the City of St. Charles conducted a public charrette to design New Town in February 2003. A community incorporating a wide range of housing types, parks and greens, an organic farm, and a total of six neighborhood centers was planned. Construction began in 2004, and the first residents arrived in April 2005.

Economics

In addition to the residential and recreational development, the planned community includes commercial space and currently has a few small businesses, restaurants, cafés. The community is also the headquarters of Whittaker Builders, Inc.[5] In October 2009, Whittaker Builders filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[6]

Transportation

The New Town settlement is located near Missouri Route 370, an east-west freeway connecting St. Peters, St. Charles and northern St. Louis County. New Town is also a planned stop for the St. Charles Streetcar project, a future heritage streetcar line. A planned 8-mile (13 km) route connecting New Town, the historic downtown of St. Charles city, the St. Charles Convention Center, and the Family Arena sports and performance arena.[7]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.newurbannews.com/NewTownInsideJul05.html
  2. ↑ http://www.southernliving.com/travel/south-west/new-town-st-charles-st-louis-missouri-00400000046775/
  3. ↑ Rushton, Bruce (2002-11-27). "Odd Ducks". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  4. ↑ Trask, Mike (2009). "Whittaker Builders continues to sell New Town in St. Charles City". Missouri Lawyers Media.
  5. ↑ Trask, Mike (2009). "Whittaker Builders continues to sell New Town in St. Charles City". Missouri Lawyers Media.
  6. ↑ http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/10/new_town_developer_files_bankruptcy_whittaker_homes_plans_to_reorganize.php. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ http://www.newtownatstcharles.com/Streetcars.aspx
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