1. Community as place or neighbourhood.

Community in this context is group of people

living in a neighborhood that share their immediate environment, interact and participate in local
events usually having some shared characteristics and values such as ethnicity, race, class and
religion.
2. Community as a set of shared values, practices, and ways-of-being-in-the-world.
In this context, Instead of spatial association of people and their neighborhoods, community
signifies a set of common characteristics, social practices, values and beliefs, among a group of
people with/without implied spatial (geographical) association. A community may be defined by
a particular place (origin), but that is by no means a prerequisite for defining all aspects of
peoples several social construct identities (race, religion, customs, etc.). A central characteristic
of this notion of community is that the values and beliefs shared by a group than the place of
origin. Examples:- A Catholic, A Hispanic, A Vegan.
3. Community as shared interests. Community can also be defined as group of people that
are defined by a shared set of interests irrespective of geographic origin. Here the threshold of
commonality is lower than for the preceding definition of community. In many cases the
interest/activity covers relatively narrow aspect of a person's life. They might be a member of an
occupational association, a political group or a member of a social group. Unlike the other
definitions of community, community is primarily driven by conscious, reasoned, joint-action
with other people. A pure community of interest is not based on emotional, or mutual affection,
but on a clear-eyed assessment of the benefits to be gained by associating together as a group or
grounds of best interest. Examples:- community of an environmental group ( without necessarily
being an environmentalist).

Community involvement in sustainable cities is vital in shaping the density of development,

ensuring a mix of land uses, containing urban sprawl and achieving social and economic
diversity and vitality (Jenks et al., 1996; Jenks and Dempsey, 2005). Local communities are
integral parts of development in urban areas. The essential component of sustainable
development in urban areas involves improving the quality of life and social equity. The design
of sustainable cities aims at making cities habitable, pleasant, socially and environmentally
friendly. Communities thrive as quality of life improves in urban areas. A community with fit
social cohesion is likely to provide a better quality of life to its members too. Jenks (2010)
identifies eight desirable characteristics of a sustainable urban community
Pride and attachment
Interaction
Safety
Environment
Satisfaction with home
Stability vs mobility
Participation in collective/group activity
Use neighbourhood facilities/services

Some scholars argue higher densities coupled with mixed use urban forms will lead to a better
quality of life due to more social interaction, community spirit and cultural vitality (e.g. Rudlin
and Falk, 1999), in part due to proximity to work, shops and basic social, educational and
leisure facilities (Urban Task Force, 1999: 64). Williams (2000) disagree saying social tensions,
crime or fear of crime and bad neighbour effects would be rampant in urban centers.

Reference: M. Jenks, C. Jones (eds.), Dimensions of the Sustainable City, Future City 2, 1
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4020-8647-2_1, C _ Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

City of University City, Missouri

The Parkview Gardens Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan initiative seeks to build
a sustainable community by integrating transportation, housing, public space, and cultural arts in
a comprehensive vision for the future for the historical neighborhood of Parkview Gardens. The
neighborhood is home to the famous Delmar Loop, a regional destination for entertainment,
shopping, and restaurants. The neighborhood plan was adopted on July 14, 2014 as a supplement
to the citys comprehensive plan from 2005.

Parkview Gardens is located at the headwaters of the River Des Peres drainage basin, the largest
drainage basin in the St. Louis metropolitan region. 60% surface area of the neighborhood ( the
rest 40% is also less infiltration rate due to compacted soil) is impervious and aging sewer
systems lead to high runoff. The River Des Peres, which once flowed through the neighborhood,
was channelized and buried underground which made a headacheof storm sewer management.
The current plan advocates for increased use of blue | green infrastructure, which it defines as
the components of the neighborhood fabric that connect habitat, parks and open space while
managing stormwater.

The plans objectives are

Mitigate the environmental effects of stormwater runoff

Reduce impervious surfaces
Decrease reliance on traditional and aging gray infrastructure system and improve
the quality of the public realm
Increase tree canopy coverage and green open space in order to improve the
aesthetic quality of the built environment for pedestrians and neighborhood
residents
The following qualitative (no impact, possible impact and definite impact) metrics were used for
the sustainability plan based on the 3 Es (Environment, Equity, and Economics)

Market / Real Estate Dev.

Job Opportunities & Skills
Local Business Dev. Support
Affordable Housing
Renewable Energy
Tree Canopy
Transportation
Active Living
Place Making / Character
Waste Minimization
Community Empowerment
Social / Human Services
Stormwater
Parks & Open Space
Energy Use Reduction
Native Species / Biodiveristy
Educational Opportunity
Health & Safety
Water Conservation
Green Buildings
 Green House Gas Emission Reduction
Planning
Social & Cultural Diversity
Food Access & Nutrition
Air Quality
Mobility
Self Governance
Land Use