The Continuing Value of a Planned Community: Radburn in the Evolution of Suburban Development

Radburn was built at the edge of early 20th-century suburbs in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, in a time of transition between suburban development patterns. Although only a quarter of the original town plan was completed because of the Great Depression, its distinctive characteristics have remained unchanged. Its location on the border between early 20th-century suburban development, which is based on a strict grid system, and post-World War II suburban development allows us to compare Radburn's distinctive values with other schemes of residential development. The paper finds that the Radburn model is still working. The pedestrian-oriented scheme encourages high transit use. The market still values Radburn's integration of high-density development with attractive public space and its complete pedestrian network as a premium in property value. Since many contemporary planners and designers are once again pursuing these Radburn values in New Urbanist schemes, they would do well to consider the Radburn model.