Most beloved communities (think Savannah or Santa Fe) evolve over generations. Kennecott Land, the non-mining branch of Kennecott Utah Copper, is building such a place in the relative blink of an eye—14,000 homes over the next 15 years, with more to follow—and they’re doing much of it on a former mining buffer zone, or brownfield, rather than a piece of undeveloped land, or greenfield. They’re also applying a number of smart principles to minimize the negative impact of growth.

Nestled at the base of the Oquirrh Mountains, with the Rockies rising to the east, Daybreak has streets running at a diagonal to the valley to frame mountain views. Tree-shaded corridors link parks and other civic spaces with the large Oquirrh Lake. Small, high-quality homes are emphasized, with more than three-quarters of plans falling under 2,200 square feet. (Optional basements increase space by one-third.) Some cluster around central commons, allowing for the luxurious feel of open air. Beckie Rasmussen, who moved here with her husband and six children two years ago, says, "Though the homes are kind of close, it feels like I’m back in the country."

Lessons from Daybreak
The developers combined the new elementary school with the community center to create a more practical and valuable neighborhood amenity. You can take a child to school, drop off another at daycare, and work out in the gym, all in the same place.