Gramercy is designed according to timeless principles of place-making which promote the creation of diverse, walkable, compact and authentic communities.

Traditional neighborhoods reflect a human-scaled architecture that is intimate, familiar, and welcoming. Some typical characteristics of traditional neighborhoods include:

• One or more neighborhood centers, such as parks and plazas
• Walkable and pedestrian-friendly streets
• A variety of housing types, both rental and for-sale
• A diverse mixture of uses such as housing, workplaces, shops, and civic facilities
• A logical, continuous and interconnected street network
• High-quality architecture and design
• Design elements that foster community interaction

More information about traditional neighborhood development can be found at the websites for the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Urban Land Institute.

Carmel's Urban Design Initiative

Throughout the past decade, the City of Carmel has been guiding the redevelopment of its historic core into a vital downtown full of activity, a mixture of uses, and high-quality architecture. Carmel's Urban Design Initiative is the latest manifestation of this commitment to good urban design and city planning.

The Carmel Urban Design Initiative is an education and consensus-building project that has been initiated by the City of Carmel's Department of Community Services and facilitated by EDEN Land and Design, Inc. to create a better understanding of important land use issues, and introduce urban design principles into the on-going city building efforts of the City of Carmel.

Carmel's Urban Design Initiative has identified Gramercy as a future community (or neighborhood) extension within Carmel's central core.