How urban form effects sense of community: a comparative case study of a traditional neighborhood and conventional suburban development in Northern Virginia
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Abstract
Urban form and sense of community have been explored as distinct disciplinary concepts for decades; however, often without the endorsement of a normative standard or measure. The purpose of this study was to explore the interrelationship of these concepts by comparing two Northern Virginia neighborhoods, which are in close proximity to Washington, DC. Brambleton, a traditional neighborhood development, and Stratford, a nearby conventional suburban development, were chosen as case study communities due to their physical representation of distinct urban forms and socio-demographic characteristics. Neighborhood residents were surveyed regarding the impact of their immediate built environment and their perception of physical and social neighborhood characteristics on their level of sense of community. The role of urban form in the everyday lives of neighborhood residents was found to have an impact on the social and physical sense of community exhibited by residents.