By Mike McMillan

In the days of sprawling subdivisions with few amenities, traditional neighborhood developments (TNDs) are a breath of fresh air. That’s where Clemson’s Patrick Square stands out — in a package that maximizes sustainability and green building concepts.

The community has been around for nearly a decade, but its style of development dates back to the days before the car — when communities were built around having shops, restaurants, and doctors’ offices within a short walking distance. It’s a design that, builders say, reduces the reliance on cars, decreases automotive emissions, and leads to healthier residents.

The development is the brainchild of J. Michael Cheezem’s JMC Communities, a firm in St. Petersburg, Fla. Cheezem, already a well-known name in Florida, came to South Carolina to plan the development at the beginning of the Great Recession. The development’s name comes from John C. Calhoun’s father, Patrick, who was a member of the state Legislature.

Click here to read the full article originally published by the Upstate Business Journal.