A What?

A “pocket neighborhood”, that’s what! (a WARNING to all you English-language purists out there: this text was written in American English, so I don’t want to hear – or, in this case, read – any wisecracks about my atrocious spelling, understood? Good, now let’s get started):

A “pocket neighborhood” is a relatively new concept of housing currently spreading all over these United States of America, and gaining popularity in the process. The reason behind the proliferation of this new neighborhood concept is two-fold:

1 – As people live longer and healthier lives, pocket neighborhoods offer a way of feeling connected to those whose families live far away; to those with no family support system; and to those who are pure social butterflies and, as such, dread the sound of silence and solitude. In short: pocket neighborhoods provide social connectedness to those who seek it, i.e., a sense of belonging and a means of fighting loneliness.

2 – The other factor is a safety issue; as one resident so eloquently puts it, “few burglars want to mess with caring, sharp-eyed neighbors.”

So how do these “pocket neighborhoods” work? For starters, they’re called “pockets” because they are no more than enclaves in current-traditional neighborhoods. Aimed at those looking for alternatives to the current suburban model, they found a niche among those of “a certain age”: 50 to 60 year old boomers in search of smaller community-oriented living environments. These “enclaves” do not have a street separating the homes that face one another; they do not have big fenced-in backyards where people hide in search of privacy; and they do not have attached garages where drivers disappear into until it’s time to hop back into the car again. What they do have are landscaped  courtyards separating the home across the street with a common walkway connecting front doors; they have shared pedestrian gardens, yards, alleys and mailboxes; small backyards with the focus on the front; and mostly detached garages or a common parking area which deemphasize the current automobile mentality so prevalent since the 1950s. All this in an effort to form (and build) ever-lasting relationships with neighbors.

Obviously this is not for everyone; one resident said it best when she referred to the stream of neighbors crossing her way as “the parade of gawkers”  – but it certainly has its merits and there’s certainly a niche for it, as the popularity of such a concept attests. Which begs the question: seria este um conceito viável em Portugal?