UM plans a 'model' village.

Byline: Andres Viglucci

Feb. 17--The University of Miami, venturing into real estate development for the first time, is aiming for something a lot more ambitious than a cookie-cutter subdivision: It wants to create an antidote to suburban sprawl amid a rare pine forest in South Miami-Dade County.

Though far from finalized, the university's proposal envisions an old-fashioned, walkable village of up to 1,200 small homes clustered around a new public kindergarten through 12th grade school and a new public library, parks and neighborhood shops.

UM officials say the project would serve as a model for what suburban development in Miami-Dade could be -- smart, not wasteful, ecologically friendly and civic-minded.

The village's compact plan and small lots would make efficient use of land and encourage strolling, UM officials say. Kids could walk to school and recreation, and parents could forgo use of their automobiles for many daily activities -- from basic shopping to working out at the gym, from seeing a doctor at a UM-run medical clinic to attending courses.

UM officials hope it will also nurture a close sense of community missing in many conventional subdivisions.

"It would not be the typical suburb where residents leave in the morning, come back at night and close the door or close the gate, and that's it," said UM provost Luis Glaser.