In the new urbanism movement, “the design of spaces matters to the vibrancy and livability of a community” according to the Sustainable Cities Institute of the National League of Cities. It represents an urban walkable lifestyle in convenient, enjoyable places, resulting in healthy and strong communities. Metro Star Properties, LLC is creating these aesthetically pleasing, pedestrian-friendly environments in central public spaces.
Our business model re-spawns downtown properties through the creation of high quality, aesthetically pleasing buildings that will attract residents who can support and stimulate the expansion of traditional neighborhood designs that establish a “lifestyle” rental environment. This development program combines residential dwellings with the renewal of business spaces meeting modern retail and office standards.
According to newurbanism.org, “New Urbanism promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant, mixed-use communities composed of the same components as conventional development, but assembled in a more integrated fashion, in the form of complete communities. These contain housing, work places, shops, entertainment, schools, parks, and civic facilities essential to the daily lives of the residents, all within easy walking distance of each other. New Urbanism promotes the increased use of trains and light rail, instead of more highways and roads. Urban living is rapidly becoming the new hip and modern way to live for people of all ages. Currently, there are over 4,000 New Urbanist projects planned or under construction in the United States alone, half of which are in historic urban centers.”
“This is the most important planning movement this century, and is about creating a better future for us all. It is an international movement to reform the design of the built environment, and is about raising our quality of life and standard of living by creating better places to live. New Urbanism is the revival of our lost art of place-making, and is essentially a re-ordering of the built environment into the form of complete cities, towns, villages, and neighborhoods – the way communities have been built for centuries around the world. New Urbanism involves fixing and infilling cities, as well as the creation of compact new towns and villages.”
Metro Star believes that strong demand will continue for urban style living in New England, Westchester and Metro New York cities and towns by young professionals (generation “Y”) as well as older residents looking to simplify their homes and participate in a metropolitan lifestyle. Recognizing the economic support to businesses and the property tax enhancements apartment / mixed use properties provide, cities and towns once opposed to multi-family development are now embracing them.
Metro Star is built upon the diverse experience that its founder, Robert Smith, Jr., has accumulated over his 26-year career developing all major types of residential and commercial properties. Mr. Smith is highly regarded for his vision and skill as a developer who endeavors to create architecturally significant buildings that leave a lasting and positive impact on communities.