 In many ways, Austin, Texas is a very progressive city. It was rated as the second best city to live in by Money Magazine in 2006 and MSN rated it the Greenest City in America. Austin, the capital of Texas, has received a lot of praise and attention for the city’s overall attitude in recent years. If that’s not enough to lure you to Austin, the new Mueller Village just may be! It is one of Austin’s best neighborhoods, a sustainable, transit-oriented neighborhood that offers everything that its residents could need and want—homes, businesses, restaurants and plenty of room to play. It’s just three miles from downtown Austin and two miles from the University of Texas at Austin.
Mueller Village is a new kind of urban village. It sits on the old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport grounds and is transforming the space into a sustainable community. The site, which is part of 711 acres, began the redevelopment process in 1999, when the airport relocated. Mueller Village is designed according to New Urbanist principles and includes 4,600 single-family homes, condominium and apartment units, 25% of which are reserved for low-income housing. It also includes 140 acres of parks and perimeter greenways. Residents also enjoy a town center with cafes, shops and plazas. EnviroCitizen.org found that a shocking 30% of the businesses are locally owned! There are also more than 5 miles of hiking and biking paths as well as connections to public transportation.
There are five types of homes in the Mueller Village: Yard Houses, Row Houses, Garden Court Houses, Mueller Houses and Shop Houses. Each type of home offers unique ways of living to accommodate every lifestyle. Mueller Village is a glimmering example of the New Urbanist principles. It’s a pleasant, pedestrian-friendly place to live. There are a variety of transportation options, including bicycle-friendly features, connections to public transportation and plans for future rail transit. Every building, both residential and commercial, in the Mueller Village meets green building standards established by the Austin Energy Green Building Program and the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
During the construction process, conservation of resources and recycling remained top priorities. Concrete from miles of runways were recycled and sixty-year-old oak trees were relocated, rather than destroyed. To reduce the urban heat island effect (which is the increase of temperatures caused by urban areas that are filled with concrete and buildings), Mueller Village minimized parking, stacked buildings over parking and maximized pervious walkways and driveways. They also planted more than 15,000 trees to shade structures and pavement. They are currently considering the use of green roofs.
Mueller Village is a great example of New Urbanist principles. By implementing the adaptive reuse of resources they have been able to create diverse neighborhoods that include walkable designs, easy-access to public transportation and sustainable, green buildings! EnviroCitizen.org believes that examples such as Mueller Village will inspire future developments to create comparable socially and environmentally beneficial communities!
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