What makes a traditional New England village?
As the birthplace of the nation, the New England village is a physical and historic representation of community. Anchored by a village center, the New England village is walkable, provides a strong mix of uses, conveys a distinct sense of place, provides housing for residents at all income levels, and is accessible. Classic New England villages have retained their strong identities through time, resisting change and the impulse to completely replace old with new. Each village’s character is informed by local history and geography and coastal, riverfront, highlands, and farming communities each convey a very different sense of place. More than historic relics, successful New England villages remain living, active places. The modern village integrates contemporary uses into the historic fabric of each community, with new residential and commercial developments built around the historic village district. The modern New England village is oriented to a quality of life associated with curre
