Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The faux "town centers" pale in comparison to any average new england village with a town green built on a solid grid network of streets.

It is so sad what we have come to "appreciate" with public gathering spaces in our society.

+1

Don’t worry! In just 30 years they will seem authentic and in 100 years they will be the New England town…

The New England “villages”, for the most part, are simply giant intersections for very busy and overcrowded highways. There is usually no walking around a village green unless you want to cross a 4 lane route 20 or something to get there.

Uh huh. That is exactly how I would describe e.g., Chatham, Concord, Lexington, Harvard, and Arlington, Massachusetts. And Yarmouth, Brunswick, and Camden, Maine. Hanover, NH.

Just big highways.

Would the Walter Reed redevelopment count? Seem like they are trying to make it a one stop destination for multiple demographics and have had an increasing amount of events throughout the year.

If you mean a real town center, I like Summit, NJ.

Mosaic

Maine > Bar Harbor, Boothbay Harbor, Cornish, Houlton, Camden

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The faux "town centers" pale in comparison to any average new england village with a town green built on a solid grid network of streets.

It is so sad what we have come to "appreciate" with public gathering spaces in our society.

Can you name some of this New England Villages, for visiting purposes.

Not OP, but I visited Manchester Vermont last year, and I think that probably fits what OP is referring to. Maybe Stowe also.

If you are talking about newly constructed “fake” towns referenced above… I think Fairfax Corner is not too bad. It has a common green area, splash pad for kids, they hold some outdoor festivals, music, etc. More small stores and restaurants, few big box stores.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The faux "town centers" pale in comparison to any average new england village with a town green built on a solid grid network of streets.

It is so sad what we have come to "appreciate" with public gathering spaces in our society.

Can you name some of this New England Villages, for visiting purposes.

Washington Depot CT is the inspiration for Gilmore Girls.

I thought Fairfield CT was nice & walkable but I was there about 5 years ago & only for about an hour.

Anonymous wrote:The faux "town centers" pale in comparison to any average new england village with a town green built on a solid grid network of streets.

It is so sad what we have come to "appreciate" with public gathering spaces in our society.

Can you name some of this New England Villages, for visiting purposes.

I think downtown silver spring is a good town center. There’s the main strip plus many side side streets full of restaurants and retails. Plus an ice rink in the winter, a civic building, farmers market, and pretty soon a new public pool.

Anonymous wrote:None. All of the Towne Centers around here are Potemkin villages.

I don’t think you know what that actually means.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The faux "town centers" pale in comparison to any average new england village with a town green built on a solid grid network of streets.

It is so sad what we have come to "appreciate" with public gathering spaces in our society.

+1

Don’t worry! In just 30 years they will seem authentic and in 100 years they will be the New England town…

The New England “villages”, for the most part, are simply giant intersections for very busy and overcrowded highways. There is usually no walking around a village green unless you want to cross a 4 lane route 20 or something to get there.

Anonymous wrote:The things on this list are malls, not “town centers.” I don’t think a mall built to look like a fake town is the same thing.

Like whatever they’re trying to call the Springfield Mall as a Town Center?

Anonymous wrote:The things on this list are malls, not “town centers.” I don’t think a mall built to look like a fake town is the same thing.

I think this is what the OP is posting about though...no one calls a real town a "town center." That is used for the mallish new planned town things ime.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The faux "town centers" pale in comparison to any average new england village with a town green built on a solid grid network of streets.

It is so sad what we have come to "appreciate" with public gathering spaces in our society.

+1

Don’t worry! In just 30 years they will seem authentic and in 100 years they will be the New England town…

Anonymous wrote:The things on this list are malls, not “town centers.” I don’t think a mall built to look like a fake town is the same thing.

No, a town center can be new buildings.