Rick Cole:
Mueller feels like the alternate reality of how our nation should have been building—with an emphasis on reality. Mueller tangibly demonstrates that New Urbanism is neither a nostalgic niche nor a utopian impossibility. New Urbanism is the application of timeless ways of building to the technology, demography and reality of how we could live today. If anyone doubts the viability and the value of building walkable urbanism, let them spend time in Mueller.
There are problems with Mueller. The west edge is full of big-box chain retail and acres of parking. But there is a good core that is a positive example of hosing and buildings that are impossible elsewhere in Austin because of our 80s-era land development code mandates low-density, suburban-style housing.