a. Streets are public spaces. Pedestrians' needs shall have priority over those of motorists. Cars should be optional here, not a prerequisite to survival.

b. Streets must be safe: Buildings should create public spaces that are clearly watched over. Traffic behavior should be "calmed" through design.

c. Streets must be shaded and beautiful: The tree canopy over the streets should be restored where absent, using native trees with regular spacing.

d. Streets are multipurpose: a place to drive, yes, but also perhaps a place to shop or sell, park, stroll or jog, greet friends, and hold a parade.

e. Streets should form an interconnected, rational network providing several convenient routes to each destination. Blocks should be small.

f. Buildings should be placed along their streets consistently to create harmony.

g. There should be a clear edge between the public and private spaces. Clearly defined private outdoor spaces should be associated with each dwelling.

h. Lots should have clear fronts and backs. Service areas should be screened. Driveways and garages should be placed to the side or rear, not in front.

i. Special sites should be reserved for civic buildings, as symbols of community permanence and pride. The best sites are geometrically formal, such as the end of a street vista or anchoring a public square.

j. Parking is a normal part of public infrastructure.

k. Physical reconditioning of these neighborhoods is not a luxury, it is a necessary investment. A sustained financial commitment to realizing the plan must be made.

l. Land development regulations should respect a flexible mix of land uses, allowing the market to operate naturally over time. Regulations shall focus instead on fundamental design issues, such as the proper placement of buildings on their sites.

m. There should be a range of dwellings of various sizes and types to own or rent.

n. Buildings should be designed for the Low Country climate, incorporating time-tested elements that conserve energy and extend durability. Examples: metal roofs, porches, & raised foundations.

o. Houses should have porches to encourage contact with the neighbors.

p. Shopfront buildings should provide awnings, canopies, or arcades and colonnades to protect pedestrians from sudden storms and the hot sun.

q. The position and proportion of the building in relation to the public space is far more important than the uses inside it or the style of its architecture.