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July 31, 2019 | by QualicoCommunities
What makes a community or neighbourhood a great place to live? Is it the coveted zip code and a variety of amenities? Or, maybe it’s the amazing people you meet that enrich your experience and make your new community feel like home. The truth is, creating a liveable community goes far beyond that. It’s a detailed process that starts from the planning stage and spans through to completion. It includes everything from the community’s character and housing options, down to its ability to support its residents varying and distinct lifestyles. For anyone wondering if their dream neighbourhood is a suitable one, we’ve taken a detailed look at a few factors that make a community a good place to live.
Imagine living in a community without a distinct identity. There’d be no excitement or attachment to the area felt by its residents. Believe it or not, part of what makes a community a great place to live is its sense of place. Developers assess the natural and man-made assets in the area and use that as a focal point to distinguish it from other communities. This way, the neighbourhood will showcase the special and unique characteristics which help residents foster a sense of attachment and belonging to the community. Plus, where there’s a sense of belonging, there’s commitment – so residents will stick around for a long time.
The point of developing a community is to get people to move in and live there long term. To make this a reality, every liveable community should have a wide variety of housing options for its future residents. Housing should range from single to multifamily, and vary in size and price to accommodate everyone’s needs. This ensures the community is suitable for young adults, growing families, downsizers etc. A good variety of housing options fosters diversity in the community as it provides options for every stage of life.
Transportation is a vital link that connects residents within a community to each other. Transportation is also important in connecting a community to the rest of the city – thus making it an essential component of a livable community. Residents need easy access to different transportation options such as public transit to get to their jobs, social activities and other aspects of their lives which support their independence and identity. It’s also important that these options are accessible, affordable and safe. This ensures that they cater to all resident needs. With access to public transit and other transportation options, homeowners can easily enjoy the community and enjoy the rest of the city as well – enabling them to establish or maintain their ideal lifestyles.
Our health and safety are probably the most important things to us. So, it makes sense that a livable community is one that makes them a priority. Healthy communities are ones with tons of open green spaces, parks, playgrounds and walkable trails and pathways. These spaces help people foster good physical, mental and social health. With easy access to parks and open spaces, residents can take part in their favourite sports, destress in nature or simply gather with friends and family. A great community is also a safe one. Developers work closely with the city to establish thoughtfully planned and secure spaces. This includes creating school zones, suitable pedestrian-friendly streets etc. to give residents peace of mind.
Finally, an accommodating community is one in which residents can live, work and play. To establish this, good communities make use of mixed-use development. This is an urban development strategy that blends residential, institutional, commercial and cultural uses. These communities are usually pedestrian friendly as work, commercial and recreational destinations are all within a short walk from each other. Neighbourhoods which make use of mixed-use developments promote sustainability and allow residents to live well-rounded and balanced lives.
There are tons of things that make a great community. However, what makes a community livable is its ability to cater to the core needs of its residents through its design and resources. Now that you know what to look for, you can start the search for your ideal neighbourhood.
StreetSide Developments has been building homes for over 28 years. We have the honour of constructing the place in the world where our owners feel most like themselves. It’s why we build one way, and one way only — to the highest level of quality, because we aren’t just building homes, we’re building your home.