Inclusive New Urbanism: As It Applies to Golden Country Homes Subdivision in Alangilan, Batangas City (Results from a Qualitative Study)

Abstract

Golden Country Homes Subdivision in Alangilan, Batangas City is undergoing a rapid and unregulated transformation from a conventional residential subdivision into a mixed-use neighborhood district. Triggered by the expansion of Batangas State University and the establishment of the Knowledge, Innovation and Science Technology (KIST) Park as a Special Economic Zone, the subdivision has experienced significant population influx, land-use conversion, and infrastructural strain. This study examines the applicability of New Urbanism principles as a framework for guiding this transition toward an inclusive and sustainable urban form. Employing a multi-phase qualitative methodology including ethnography, discourse analysis of governing policies, grounded theory, descriptive statistics, and phenomenological inquiry the research analyzes socio-political dynamics, demographic shifts, spatial conflicts, and emerging urban patterns within the subdivision. Findings reveal that while Golden Country Homes already exhibits several characteristics aligned with New Urbanism such as walkability potential, mixed housing typologies, and institutional proximity challenges persist in parking regulation, open space provision, inclusivity, and governance adaptation. The study argues that structured implementation of inclusive New Urbanism principles, including tactical urbanism strategies and environmentally responsive planning, can reposition the subdivision as a balanced neighborhood district rather than a fragmented urban enclave. The research contributes to discourse on small-scale urban transformation in rapidly urbanizing Philippine subdivisions.