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Free Resources | Land Use | Model Projects |
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Village Homes Blends Urban Lifestyle and Environmentally Sound Planning into a Diverse, Livable Neighborhood
Village Homes is a planned unit development of single-family homes, apartments, a community center and office building on a 60-acre site in Davis, California. Located fourteen miles west of the state's capital city, Sacramento, Village Homes features solar water and space heating, natural cooling systems, agricultural areas and greenbelts, cooperative maintenance of common areas, a well-used bicycle and pedestrian path network, and a natural drainage system.
The project serves as a national model for environmentally sustainable development, energy-conserving planning, architecture and engineering, and community planning. Energy consumption is one-third to one-half that of neighboring development. Homes sold quickly when the development was first built. Initially, prices were the same as in neighboring developments. Today, homes sell for $11/sq. ft. more and sell in half the time as others in Davis.
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60 |
240 |
4,000 |
12,000 sq. ft. |
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650 |
(units/net acre) 7.7 |
Village Center 4.3 minutes |
39° - 95° |
Environmental Focus: Natural Heating & Cooling
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North-South Orientation. All houses are oriented toward the south, accommodating the use of solar panels. This design also allows south facing windows to be shaded in the summer by an overhang and to take advantage of the low winter sun for space heating. |
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Energy consumption in Village Homes is
much lower than that of surrounding areas - with annual kilowatt/hour
per capita of 7,320 compared to 12,069 in outlying vicinities. |
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Solar Hot Water Systems. Solar systems in Davis, CA,
can meet 100% of a home's hot water needs in the summer and
at least 50% in the winter. A natural thermosiphon system
warms water in a flat plate collector as it rises to an insulated
storage tank. No pumps or controls are necessary. |
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Landscaping. Roads are narrow and shaded by deciduous trees, which allows the streets to be shaded in the summer, reducing the ambient temperature by 10 degrees. Homes stay cool without air conditioning despite the hot summer climate. |
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Implementing the Plan
The development was proposed by the developer as a Planned Unit Development. The plan evolved over several years as the developer worked to respond to perceived needs for a greater sense of community and an ecologically sound lifestyle.
Greenbelts and community facilities were designed by the developer. Residents assisted in their construction during the weekend work parties. Common areas shared by clusters of eight homes were landscaped by the developer who then gave residents of each cluster $600 to customize the space.
Lots were developed at a rate of about 50 per year over a five-year period. Each unit sold within 12 months. Partners earned 23% per annum on their investment. Five houses were built using sweat equity.
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Village Homes Development Specs |
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Developer: |
Design & Landscaping: |
Lender: |
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Site: |
Site Improvements: |
Home Construction: |
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The results of these design features? The average person knows 42 people in their neighborhood, compared to 17 by those in outlying areas. Residents spend 3.5 hours a week with friends in the neighborhood, compared to a vicinity average of 0.9 hrs./week. The average resident identifies 4.0 of their best friends living within the neighborhood, while the average is 0.4 for people living elsewhere in the vicinity. |
Continue to Next Page
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An
aerial view of Village Homes shows walking and bicycling paths.
Note that there are no dividing fences, leaving residents
less than one minute to the nearest park and only three minutes
from the community center.