Many people are probably familiar with planned communities. Maybe you have one in your city, or perhaps you’re currently living in it. Such communities are deliberately designed and generally built on previously undeveloped land.

The planned houses, roads, and other amenities afford convenience and comfort to its residents. You can find grocery stores in planned communities that are just a walking distance from the houses.

The landscaping alongside the streets is also carefully designed to make the neighborhood more aesthetically appealing. Plus, there are bike lanes, hiking trails, and commuter rails to make walking and traveling safer and more efficient. 

There’s a noticeable difference between planned and ad hoc communities. The latter typically have houses far from shopping centers, which means you’ll have to drive a car to buy stuff.

Many people nowadays prefer to take residence in planned communities because of the convenience that such neighborhoods provide.

The History of Planned Communities in the United States

In the United States, the first planned community was constructed in Riverside, Illinois, in 1869. The creative mind behind the Village of Riverside was Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed the renowned Central Park in New York.  

Riverside has remarkable features, such as sufficient setbacks (houses built 30 feet from the road), curvilinear streets, naturalistic arrays of trees, and pastoral parkways. Some parts of the village have been recognized as National Historic Landmarks.

Today, the Village of Riverside is still an attractive and thriving community with at least 8,875 residents. 

Seeing the success of Riverside, many planned communities were built throughout the United States, especially in Intermountain West, Florida, California, and Texas. These planned communities cover at least a few to several hundred acres of land.

Later, much bigger concepts like master-planned communities came into existence. One notable example is the Irvine Ranch in California which spans 93,000 acres of the Pacific coastline and has 24 interconnected villages. 

Some planned communities have special features that attract people with particular lifestyles and interests, such as those who love the outdoors or water activities. In Bald Head Island, North Carolina, there’s a peaceful seaside community with marshlands, a maritime forest, and a yacht club.

In Round Rock, Texas, you can find a planned village with two parks, biking/hiking trails, and a communal swimming pool. Still, others have a cycle-racing track, zipline, skate park, water park, and other features that appeal to different types of folks. 

Many retirees also prefer to live in planned communities, and there are neighborhoods specifically built for them. The Villages is arguably the most popular planned community for retirees in Florida. This community started when a developer sold large land areas in the 1960s.

Nowadays, The Villages has over 157,000 population, many of which are retirees enjoying the many recreational amenities in it. They can freely play golf on the 48 golf courses in the community. 

Advantages of Living in Planned Communities

People choose to live in planned communities for many reasons. Here are some of the advantages that attract residents to planned communities. 

• Amenities. There are amenities in planned communities you can’t find in ad hoc communities. You can enjoy a communal swimming pool, safely bike on dedicated bike lanes, or play golf in your free time. 

• Less Traffic. Planned roads mean a smooth flow of vehicle traffic. You can also choose from high-quality public transportation alternatives if you don’t have your own car. 

• Green Spaces. Beautiful arrays of trees alongside the roads and trails to the woods make planned communities an ideal place for Nature-lovers. 

• Communal Spaces. Residents in planned communities are more likely to easily get to know each other because there are communal spaces that create a sense of togetherness. You can bond with your neighbors at the community swimming pool, play together on the golf course, or have a friendly competition on the basketball court. 

Disadvantages of Living in Planned Communities

While planned communities have many advantages, there are also some downsides that people find in such communities. 

• Additional Fees. Living in a planned community is typically expensive because there are monthly fees for the maintenance of various amenities. You’ll likely pay more on monthly fees while residing in a planned community than the homeowners’ association fees in ad hoc neighborhoods. 

• More Rules. Another disadvantage is that you might have to observe many rules while living in a planned community. Community Development Districts manage such neighborhoods and create rules that residents must follow. 

Final Thoughts

Planned communities can be convenient and enjoyable places to live for people with specific lifestyles. The deliberately designed features of such communities can create less traffic, give you access to many amenities, and develop a sense of togetherness with your neighbors.

However, the additional costs of living in planned communities can be a downside to some people.