Haile Village Center brings residents and businesses = together with New Urbanism concept | Gainesville.com | The Gainesville = Sun

Monica Albert says she likes the idea of walking = to work=20 from her home although admits to contemplating using a = golf=20 cart, especially when she's carrying = things.

But the=20 co-owner of Olive You Eat Well catering company = doesn't=20 consider using her car anymore.

"The idea of = driving my=20 car from my house to work seems a waste of gas," said = Albert,=20 who lives and works within a distance of less than = 1/2-mile in=20 Haile Village Center, a 40-acre mixed-used planned = urban area=20 within Haile Plantation.

She is one of several = people=20 who have chosen to establish their businesses within = their=20 neighborhood communities.

In 1993, as local = developers=20 Robert Kramer and Bob Rowe were breaking ground on = Haile=20 Plantation, they also began work on a smaller, more=20 self-contained, walkable neighborhood within the heart = of the=20 1,100-acre tract of Haile Plantation.

Since = then, Haile=20 Village Center has grown to include a variety of = housing=20 styles, a wide range of medical and social services = and an=20 array of shops and businesses.

The "new = urbanism"=20 development concept, which combines principles of = architecture=20 and urban planning to create areas where people can = live and=20 work within their own neighborhoods, was first seen in = the=20 work of a few avant garde architects during the 1970s. = The=20 trend began in earnest in the 1980s.

The idea = is to=20 create neighborhoods that balance modern convenience = with=20 traditional community cohesiveness. Examples of new = urbanism=20 communities include Town of Tioga, Seaside in the = Panhandle=20 and the town of Celebration near Orlando. But the = trend is not=20 limited to the Sunshine State, with communities = dotting the=20 country from California to Maine.

In 2004, = condominium=20 developers HVC Partners LLC, bought about one-third of = the=20 leased residential and commercial space and began a = conversion=20 process.

While the New Urbanism trend continues = to be=20 popular for suburban transformation and in-fill = development,=20 hybrids have emerged. These projects use some = principles of=20 New Urbanism, such as walkability and high density by=20 combining residential, retail and office space. But in = general=20 they are more modern in their planning and structure = and do=20 not represent traditional-neighborhood=20 development.

"This is the preferred development = for a=20 live, work and play community concept. The tendency = (is) for=20 people to want to live near their business and be able = to walk=20 to area services," said Mike Deere, managing partner = of=20 HVC.

The village was designed to be pedestrian = friendly=20 with most destinations only a 10-minute walk away, = said Deere.=20 The Village Center has a market, a day care and = preschool,=20 clothing and shoe stores, a fitness center, a bank and = several=20 restaurants. The neighborhood also boasts three = dentists, a=20 pediatrician and a 6,000 sq. ft. medical center, along = with=20 post office and police substation.

Housing = ranges from=20 $150,000 to more than $900,000 and the homes are set = close=20 together with garages in rear alleyways and front = porches=20 close to the street for "meeting and greeting" = neighbors, he=20 added.

The narrow streets are laid out in a = grid=20 pattern to promote a slower flow of traffic. = Landscaping,=20 parks and building features have been chosen to create = a=20 neighborhood that is functional as well as = aesthetically=20 pleasing.

"Human beings are happier when there = are=20 idiosyncrasies in their surroundings. The tree = canopies, paint=20 colors and even the undulating sidewalks are = deliberately=20 planned," said Deere.

A well-defined town = center with=20 retail stores clustered nearby and other businesses = scattered=20 along the outskirts, mixed together with residential = areas are=20 the heart of the New Urbanism concept, said = Deere.

"If=20 you don't like picket fences and trees, you don't want = to live=20 here," said Deere.

The community is centered = around the=20 village park and town square which includes the former = town=20 hall, renamed Plantation Hall. Residents attend yoga = classes,=20 business dinners and Sunday worship services=20 there.

David Patterson is pastor of the River = Cross=20 Church and active with the village since February = 2005,=20 leading a small congregation that consists of village = and=20 Haile Plantation residents as well as people from the=20 surrounding southwest area.

"We are a very=20 non-traditional Southern Baptist church," said = Patterson. "Our=20 music is very upbeat and I usually preach in=20 jeans."

Pastor Patterson, and wife Jan, have = purchased=20 a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condominium above a retail = store. He=20 works from his home and regularly meets with members = of the=20 church or business community at the Village Market or = Third=20 Place Pub and Grille.

Living in the village has = made=20 life a little slower paced, said Patterson. The = village's=20 business owners have been generous in the use of their = space=20 as well as actively support the church's charities and = projects.

"One of the things we are trying to = be is a=20 catalyst for community activities. We hope to be a = driver=20 toward getting involved - to get people to know one = another,"=20 said Patterson. "It's a little bit of a throwback to a = society=20 less mobile, less hectic than we normally see=20 today."

Echoing those sentiments is Albert, one = half of=20 the Olive You Eat Well catering company. She built a = home in=20 Haile Village two years ago.

"I was familiar = with the=20 neighborhood and the energy - the sense of community = here,"=20 said Albert.

Along with sister and partner, = Lita=20 Giampola, the team moved their catering kitchens to = the=20 village and are preparing to open a European-style = restaurant=20 appropriately named Sisters for breakfast. Conceived = as a=20 "morning-hour bistro" the eatery will feature homemade = organic=20 granola, muffins and a signature blend of Sweetwater = organic=20 coffee. The partners will also be preparing take-out = meals and=20 later expanding their space to include a = Mediterranean-theme=20 menu for lunch and dinner.

"Food is love," said = Giampola, referring to the company ethos. "It's more = than=20 food, it's love on a plate. I'm excited about the = opportunity=20 to be part of the process of bringing people to the=20 village."

The residents are enthusiastic about = the=20 restaurant opening, said Albert.

"Our presence = will=20 make this a destination for people, which will enhance = other=20 businesses," said Albert.

Recently she visited = fellow=20 business owner Jenny Byrnes, owner of Third Place Pub = and=20 Grille, with a fresh bowl of rice pudding for a taste = test.=20 Later in the day, Byrnes returned the visit with her=20 2-year-old daughter Tabitha.

"Those are sweet = moments,"=20 said Albert.