Abstract
This article aims to clarify how town planners'conceptual messages define the character of a residential group, and how they affect the building of community. In this case study, “conceptual messages” is defined as the words or design elements that are used to evoke nostalgic memories for American suburban life, particularly a sense of small-town community.In-depth interviews of residents of Kentlands, a Maryland prototype of a new urbanist town, were conducted to examine the potential of residents to create community based upon the town's planned features. Kentlands was designed to foster a diverse community, and although class diversity has not been achieved largely because of rising housing costs, Kentlands nevertheless makes clear the possibility of attracting residents who wish to build community, and the ability of the town's planned features and conceptual messages to affect the shape of that community.
