Frequently Asked Questions
What is NewVistas?
NewVistas is a pattern that promises sustainable prosperity for those who participate. The pattern, inspired by Joseph Smith’s 1830s revelation, especially the Plat of the City of Zion and the Design of the House of the Lord, provides an economic model through which people can have “all things in common,” and where “there are no poor among them,” greatly easing access to capital for all. It also has a unique organizational and social structure that eliminates hierarchy, provides equal opportunity for all to serve. It utilizes technological innovations to provide high-density, high-quality living with unmatched economic and social opportunities for all.
What is the “pattern” in NewVistas?
The pattern is the blueprint for NewVistas—its grid layout, social organization, and economic system. Rooted in Smith’s Plat of Zion, it’s a repeatable, adaptable design can be scaled to all areas of the world, solving modern environmental, social, and economic sustainability challenges.
Where will NewVistas communities be built?
NewVistas community are envisaged to be for all people, everywhere. The model, since it does not seek to replace existing political or economic setups, can be built in any society on earth, whether democratic, capitalistic, or communist.
Why will people move to NewVistas?
People will participate in NewVistas because of the promise of a high standard of living, with great economic opportunities, and greater chances of success. Without spending a fortune, participants will have access to state of the art social facilities – a stadium, Olympic size swimming pool, opera house, concert house, among other facilities. Their investment will fetch a superior return than in other investment models since it will be under full employment at all times.
Is NewVistas a utopia?
No. While NewVistas offers an opportunity for people to achieve higher standards of success and greater opportunities to succeed, it does not intend to change the nature of humans, and does not promise a “perfect world.”
What does “no poor among them” mean in NewVistas context?
All people who join NewVistas are either “limited partners,” who have invested at least 1 unit of partnership interest worth $20,000, or dependents. Limited partners must either have a successful business, or for those who have retired, enough savings to generate sufficient income for their upkeep. Therefore, there are no “unattached’ or poor people.
What does “all things in common” mean in the context of NewVistas?
Limited partners invest in the community, and are given a “deed and covenant” which clearly states the invested amount, profit sharing arrangements, and any obligations and rights they have. The community, through the Capital Bank, invests the funds in community agencies, which in turn offer services to participants at a fee. As profit-making enterprises, they pay the Capital Bank a return on its investment, which the Capital Bank then uses to pay limited partners a return, in the form of a “profit share.” Agencies own all assets. They lease them out to participants, and, since the participants ultimately own the community, they own “all things in common.”
How is NewVistas inspired by Joseph Smith’s revelations?
In the 1830s, Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, received revelations including the Plat of Zion and Design of the House of the Lord, which gave the early saints a blueprint for a self-sufficient community. NewVistas draws from this vision’s emphasis on efficient land use, community participation, scalability, and updates it with 21st century technology and socio-economic concepts
Is NewVistas a religious project?
No, NewVistas is entirely secular. While it is inspired by early LDS revelations, it has no religious requirements or affiliations. The model is designed to work for people of any culture, faith, or background who align with its bylaws and ideals.
What makes NewVistas different from similar concepts?
NewVistas goes beyond symptoms of the issues facing society today – constant clash with the environment, unsustainable economic and social models that threaten population collapse and breed social ills and injustices, economic hardship and public health crises. It presents a totally new way of tackling these challenges, resulting in sustainable prosperity and health, without upending the social and political structures that govern the world today. It therefore offers a way out of these problems. NewVistas communities are entirely walkable, motor vehicle-free, and densely populated, while sill affording individuals ample living and working spaces.
Does high density mean small living spaces?
Every participant in the community has a private bed-bath module. Every apartment has an extra guest bed-bath module, with versatile living spaces where people can easily convert into private or public quarters when needed. Partitions are sound, smell, and light-proof, providing unparalleled degrees of privacy, and at the same time, better opportunities to interact with others sharing an apartment.
How does NewVistas ensure environmental sustainability?
Sustainability is built into the design: high-density living reduces land use, walkability and electric hubs eliminate car dependency. Advanced farming techniques, including vertical, greenhouse, and other controlled environment agriculture reduce the community’s footprint.
What about economic sustainability
With all money in full employment at all times through the community agencies and participants’ businesses, the community develops its own economy that is largely insulated from external shocks. Community agencies help participants set up and conduct businesses, with heightened chances of success proving a key in sustaining the model.
Where will the first NewVistas community be built?
There’s no set location yet. The NewVistas foundation aims to develop an operating system that it will license to participants who wish to start. It can therefore start anywhere depending on community interest, land availability, and local cooperation.
When will NewVistas communities be built?
NewVistas is a long-term vision. While small-scale prototypes may begin within 10-15 years, full communities could take decades. Developing innovations to building, power generation, waste management, and other critical components are essential at the moment as they will prove key to the community’s viability.
How does NewVistas handle opposition from local communities?
We respect local concerns, as seen in Vermont where plans were paused in 2018 due to resistance. NewVistas will aim to educate local communities that the goal isn’t to impose or replace existing arrangements. NewVistas will aim to collaborate with local communities to win them over and enable them to understand the promise of NewVistas
What’s the economic model of NewVistas?
NewVistas practices community-level capitalism. Limited partners invest their net worth into the community, set up a business, while leasing space and equipment.
Can anyone live in a NewVistas community?
Yes, as long as they agree to the community’s principles. There’s no cultural or religious test, making it inclusive, and as diverse as the local society within which it is established.
How does NewVistas address food production in harsh climates?
Rooftop greenhouses, indoor farming, irrigation efficiency and local agriculture ensure year-round food supply. More people are involved in food production, which is grown close enough to where people live. For instances where some food items are not produced, communities in a NewVista – a grouping of 50 communities – trade amongst themselves to achieve near-total self-sufficiency.
Why the grid layout?
The layout is copied from the original plat, written down by Frederick G. Williams in early 1833. The grid layout enables easy walkability, scalability, and high-density. Ample public spaces allow for easy access to nature through groves and gardens, while living in close proximity with each other allows for more cultural expression and exchange.
What are “villages” in the NewVistas model?
Villages are a group of 10 apartment building; each also called a branch. A branch houses 40 limited partners and their dependents, on average having 100 people in total. Therefore, a village is home to around 1,000 people. Apartment buildings have five floors, four of which are residential, with the podium floor hosting local businesses. Therefore, a village is not only a residential area, but a small business hub.
What does “agencies” mean in NewVistas?
Agencies are specialized organizations within a NewVistas community that manage community assets, while producing specialized services such as life planning, business planning, marketing, and accounting. The agencies also facilitate participants access to some professional services offered by contractors.
What is a “district” in NewVistas?
A district is a cluster of four adjacent villages. The villages are organized in a fan-shaped format, so that each faces the “street” or village square ahead.
What are mules?
Mules ways are small, electric, automated platforms on which apps can be attached for various functions. Mules can function as transport companions, beds, seats, hospital beds, among other functions. They ensure walkability even when a person needs to transport heavy materials or is infirm.
What does “human scale” refer to in NewVistas?
Human scale means that everything in NewVistas – villages, streets, buildings—is designed to be accessible and manageable for people, rather than being centered on cars, in the shape of cul-de-sacs or other formations. These designs ensure that communities are relatable and functional.