What makes a neighborhood awesome?
I’ve been thinking a lot about what it is that makes a neighborhood a great place to live. What is it that moves a group of structures from dwellings to community? It helps to have a location that has a sense of “place” a sense that once you arrive you are someplace.
Those of us who live in Reston are fortunate to have many gathering places—public use spaces that were designed into and planned for from the beginning. What a difference it makes to the character of our neighborhoods.
I live in the original village center of Reston on Lake Anne Plaza; a mixed use small scale commercial and residential development with beautiful architecture, built around a lake with open spaces that beckon people to take their time, to stroll the boardwalk, or to sit under the umbrellas overlooking the lake. All of this taken together makes this a wonderful place to live—but still there is something else here. Its community, people from all kinds of backgrounds that choose to live in close proximity to one another. We are bound by our love of this place—it gives a common connection, something we value together; and I wonder if that’s it, is that what makes this neighborhood a great place to live?
August 12th, 2009 at 12:03 am
I think it’s when a group of people come together with a common cause. We build community every day in each meeting I lead, to cheer each other, support, laugh, cry etc, etc. That to me is community.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I agree with Melane that people build community, but I think it will happen more naturally when the physical space provides for a gathering. Old citys & villages often had a town square that housed the civic center at one end and the church at the other…
August 12th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Recently, real-estate vocabulary has changed. One change I’ve noticed is the exchange of the word house for home; it’s advertising savvy. I presume that most people share a common bond – we are searching for “HOME”. A house is a structure. A house, as home, has a heart and soul because it can be a reflection of the very best of our characters, our lives shared together. The realtor is hoping the prospective buyer will sense this nurturing possibility for their family while touring a listing. What will grow here?
A neighborhood can be an extended home. May I say should be? The residents of the Lake Anne area of Reston, VA for example, have realized this extension. We are not just owners, renters and structures (although the structures are specific, contemporary, period design and acclaimed by architects and designers the world over. Touring students are not infrequent on our common plaza). We share a heart here around this lake view. This heart beats a genuine rhythm of the coming together of rich diversity. In general, our neighbors (and there is really nothing “general here”) seem to have found a place that reflects their varied, culturally rich, life experiences, and yet there is also a resting here, a calm that invites deep appreciation of the profound simplicities of life.
What will grow here? Well, generations have and a significant percentage of the Reston babies have begun their adult lives elsewhere, returned and returned specifically to Lake Anne, with their babies. An awesome neighborhood can expect that and is proud of it.
So as I ponder the question, it seems to me that an awesome neighborhood is reflective of its people, inclusive, nurturing, fun, pleasant to the eyes and soul. It must have a heart that pulses and supports our better, creative and splendid intentions; it must be a Home.
Kathryn Westgard
August 12th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I’ve lived here at Lake Anne Plaza for years and have never enjoyed living anywhere as much as I have this place. People here embrace all that a community should be. I know–and am friendly with–most all my neighbors. We enjoy supporting the plaza businesses, and we love the farmers and artist markets on the weekends. We see familiar faces at the restaurants and summer outdoor concerts here on the plaza. Because we have a bank, pharmacy, church, restaurants and community center all within easy walking distance we find ourselves never wanting to leave! Like Eve mentioned above, we have a sense of “place” here and it’s priceless.
August 13th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Next week I begin a series that will continue off and on through the remainder of 2009 that highlights the Neighborhoods of Reston. I can’t wait to hear what people have to say about the places they call home.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Our community has character (and characters!), which makes it more fun to live here.
August 18th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I think the people that live here are the primary reason that our neighborhood is awesome. We are all so different, with varied goals, viewpoints and life experiences; yet we all want to be right here around our beautiful little lake. We all share it as our “little secret” in the world.