After devoting considerable time, money and land to the effort, Bridgeland is the first developer to introduce New Urbanism to the greater Houston area, with the launch of Lakeland Heights, a walkable Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) where the tenets of New Urbanism and Main Street-style housing are seamlessly integrated with shops, parks, restaurants and services, all following guidelines meticulously detailed in a pattern book by architectural powerhouse Looney Ricks Kiss. Crucial to the overall design standards and the land plan of Lakeland Heights, the pattern book provides a comprehensive picture of how the TND will look and function.

An urban design movement that continues to reform many aspects of real estate development across the nation, New Urbanism promotes walkable neighborhoods with a balance of homes and businesses. Defining elements include most homes being a five-minute walk from the village center, rear-access garages reminiscent of pre-World War II homes, abundant parks and other green space, and neighborhood streets forming a connected network, dispersing traffic by providing a variety of pedestrian and vehicular routes to any destination. A defining element of Lakeland Heights is its half-mile waterway, featuring a landmark bridge, meandering trails, creatively landscaped park space and seating areas.

“We envision a place where friendships begin at the sidewalk café or along the scenic waterway trail and continue on the front porch, and daily interaction among neighbors is a given,” said Peter C. Houghton, Bridgeland’s vice president of master-planned communities. “For inspiration, LRK extensively researched traditional Houston neighborhoods, including The Heights, West University Place, Southampton and Southside Place, when developing the design standards that visually unify businesses and homes to create a distinctive, historically accurate streetscape.”

Looney Ricks Kiss, nationally known for its work with traditional neighborhood developments, chose four design styles found in those neighborhoods for Lakeland Heights: Craftsman, English Tudor, Classical and French. Each street in the TND will incorporate those housing styles to heighten curb appeal. Having architectural styles that are diverse and historical in appearance, rather than uniform and monochromatic, is a recognizable feature of traditional neighborhood developments, where homes appear to have evolved over time.

Traditional neighborhood developments have been successful in other parts of the country, including Celebration, Fla., I’On in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and, finally, Kentlands in Gaithersburg, Md., which has enjoyed success for nearly two decades.

“Market research indicates the concept will also do well in Bridgeland and the Houston area,” said LRK’s John Vanfossen, who created the pattern book from a land plan developed by Aecom’s Blake Drury. “In addition to the ‘green’ principals they embrace, TNDs reflect the longing for a return to yesteryear and simpler times. Lakeland Heights residents can enjoy a full life with less dependence on automobiles, because parks, pools, stores, schools restaurants and for some, even jobs, will be within walking distance.

“The walkability factor also has proven valuable for homeowners, with homes in walkable communities generally boasting increased property values. Bridgeland is truly on the cutting edge of new-home communities.”

Exterior cladding of the homes will be brick, stucco or wood. Set behind the homes, garages are accessed via private rear lanes. With no concrete driveways dividing front yards, the architectural integrity of the streetscape is maintained and the overall appearance of the neighborhood is enhanced. Trash and utilities are accessed via the rear lanes, helping to keep the street scene pristine. Streetlights are reminiscent of those in River Oaks and other historic neighborhoods.

David Weekley Homes has been selected as the exclusive homebuilder in Lakeland Heights based on the company’s experience building in TND communities and its design expertise. The builder has completed 10 unique home designs priced from the $160,000s to $300,000s.

Despite the nostalgic architecture, homes will have the modern features today’s buyers expect, such as high ceilings, large closets, media rooms and state-of-the-art kitchens and baths, as well as Weekley’s “green” and energy-efficient initiatives, recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy at the 2010 International Builders Show.

“We have a world-class design team for Lakeland Heights and believe homebuyers will experience the quality of life they are seeking for their families in this community,” said Rick Moore, area president of David Weekley Homes.

Lakeland Heights is planned for 600 homes. The majority of homes in the first phase of the TND face the village waterway or a neighborhood park. Compared to traditional homes in Houston’s older neighborhoods, the Lakeland Heights product is considerably more affordable.

Plus, unlike some neighborhoods that resemble TNDs, Lakeland Heights adheres to the basic tenets, which include locating community amenities within walking distance of residences, said Drury.

Residents can stroll to community parks, the neighborhood waterway, schools, churches and the Lakeland Village Center. This charming mixed-use downtown area or market square will feature retail and service establishments as well as restaurants. Some residents of Lakeland Heights may even work in the office or commercial space within the village or town center. Additionally, and just minutes from their doorsteps, residents can enjoy six acres of fun at Lakeland Activity Center, which offers a 6,000-square-foot Community Center with meeting space, a multitude of classes and activities, a resort-style aquatic complex, tennis courts, paddleboats, canoes and many other recreational amenities and social opportunities.

One of the attractive features of a TND is a significant amount of park and social community space, said Sheila Condon of Clark Condon Associates, the landscape architect for the project. “Lakeland Heights offers a multitude of creative space for active and passive tastes. In the 3.2-acre Festival Park, there will be a covered pavilion for outdoor concerts, plays and performances. A Central Park that includes The Great Lawn offers two acres of green space and an open play area, as well as a formal garden. The three-acre Rabbit Run has active open space and is across the street from the Lakeland Activity Center.”

Lakeland Heights is testimony to the fact that Bridgeland is committed to diversity, rather than focused on building 20,000 homes of the same size and type, Houghton said. “This TND offers a new product and will bring a new segment of buyers into a growing community.”

Only a limited number of homesites will be released in March, with others to come later in the year. To receive information on new availability, phone the Bridgeland Welcome Center at 281.304.5588. For more information on New Urbanism, visit www.cnu.org. Also, to see current TND communities, visit http://www.ionvillage.com/ and http://www.celebration.fl.us/. Details about Bridgeland are available at www.bridgeland.com.

Photo Information Bridgeland-TND This spring, Bridgeland opens Lakeland Heights, a walkable Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) where Main Street-style housing blends with shops, parks, restaurants and services, all following guidelines meticulously detailed in a pattern book by architectural powerhouse Looney Ricks Kiss that provides a comprehensive picture of how the TND will look and function.

About Bridgeland The Bridgeland community is a development of General Growth Properties, Inc., the second-largest U.S.-based publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) in the nation. As owner of Bridgeland and majority owner of The Woodlands, General Growth Properties is one of the largest master-planned community developers in the Houston area. For more information, visit www.bridgeland.com.