communitya

Communitya is a planned mixed-use community designed to illustrate sustainable living and inclusive governance. Located in the temperate lowlands of the fictional nation of Veridia, it sits along the River Lorne and is bordered by rural farmland to the south and a light-rail corridor to the east.

Origin and name: The name combines the word community with a Latin suffix to denote a place of belonging. Conceptualized in the late 1990s by a coalition of residents, planners, and nonprofit groups, Communitya was designed to balance housing, work, and shared spaces, with principles of accessibility and ecological design at its core.

Governance and economy: Communitya operates under a council–manager system with a resident-led assembly that approves budgets and major policies. The economy emphasizes local entrepreneurship, cooperatives, and sustainable energy, including a 2.5 megawatt solar microgrid and a district heating network serving housing blocks and studio spaces.

Demographics and culture: As of 2023, the population stands around 18,000, with broad ethnic and linguistic diversity. Public schools, a community college campus, and a central library serve residents. Cultural life centers on a yearly harvest festival, maker fairs, neighborhood gardening projects, and public art projects.

Infrastructure and planning: The transportation network prioritizes cycling and walking, with limited car access in core zones. Housing includes mixed-income blocks, affordable dwellings, and cooperative units. Water, waste, and food systems emphasize reuse, rain capture, composting, and local sourcing through farmers’ markets and urban farms.