(The New Urbanism is the concept of building a walkable, mixed-use city neighborhood or new town to provide an attractive alternative to the spread out, automobile-centric, subdivisions common to post-World War II American suburbia.)

The development, begun in 1988, contains buildings from the original Kentlands farm, many varieties of residences, a "downtown" commercial district, open space including protected natural areas and pocket parks, and civic uses including schools, a church, clubhouse, pool, tennis and basketball courts, catering facility, and an arts center.

There are jogging trails that run through the parks and districts of the neighborhood, and the community's commercial areas and the facilities operated by the Assembly, which include swimming pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, performance spaces, and a large clubhouse, are all within walking distance.

City planners, public officials, business owners, and neighborhood residents recently worked with urban designers from the HOK global architecture firm at the 'Kentlands Commercial District Charrette,' in which a plan was developed for an intensified mixed-use and transit-oriented 'Downtown Kentlands.'

Rachel Carson Elementary School is at one entrance to the community and Lakelands Park Middle School divides the newer development of Lakelands from the former National Geographic complex that is adjacent to it, now occupied by Montgomery County Regional Services Center and the Montgomery County Liquor Control Board Warehouse.

Kent, a wealthy tax lawyer, renamed the land 'Kentlands Farm', and he set about to create a gentleman's estate and wildlife sanctuary.

Alfandre, a developer, brought in Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk (partners in what was then called DPZ), urban planners credited with designing the town of Seaside, Florida.

The Kentlands Barn has been converted into a public arts center with studios, exhibit space, and a 99-seat theater used for theatrical performances and concerts.

The old Kentlands Firehouse, garden buildings, a "peacock house," and other historic artifacts have not yet been restored, while some ruins have become part of privately owned property or city parks.