Rockville(ish) Town Centers

Can private, self-contained urban simulacra be "urbanism"?

I have a new piece in Greater Greater Washington on the “town center” development: a popular redevelopment form for old malls or other large properties which combines retail, residential, and sometimes offices, with an urban-style walkable grid.

I argue that town centers are, all things being equal, a good innovation and a better use of space than single…