Cornerstones of the place called Reston worthy of emulation considered “ataboys” in some circles include gathering places where people can interact with one another, exchange ideas, and discuss community building needs. The most famous of these is the plaza at the village of Lake Anne. Other spaces have included the large stores where discussions generally occur in the checkout lines. The sidelines of the sporting venues offer other opportunities to interact. Another cornerstone is the clustering of residential units. This prevents the land clearing used by track builders. This clustering also allows connectors to reflect the photography. The most significant rational of this form of development was the construction of town homes as an alternate to single-family detached houses. The tree-save concept also resulted in the retention of many natural areas. This form of development reduces the amount of land allocated to impervious streets and roadways. The clustering also supports the use of extensive pedestrian trails, uniquely built with great structures to improve safety (under-passage, over-passage).
In its later years, the cornerstone is the Reston Town Center, which finally allowed for the significant return on the initial land investment and is being copied in many non-town places. The characteristic asset of Reston are that the residents it attracted who came with a high regard for social justice and creativity. These residents responded to the challenge of community building by the formation of a number of institutions that established Reston’s character. A viable community association promoted the value and need for affordable housing. They later encouraged their worship communities to join together to address the human needs of the residents particularly homes of limited income. This group even promoted the establishment of a homeless shelter designed consistent with the design quality of Reston. Often, people have suggested trees as the important character of Reston, than the architectural quality subject to the design-review process. The real asset has always been and will be an engaged population.
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