Demystifying Density
Welcome
to a two-part lecture series on a “hot button” topic in
affordable housing development: density. The series was developed with
support from the Fannie Mae Foundation to help explain the value of
higher density housing and to correct some of the myths that often underlie
NIMBY responses to affordable housing developments
The lectures are in the form of streaming video presentations that you can watch from your computer. They are accompanied by a comprehensive set of powerpoint slides that you can download and use to create your own presentations. Together, the lectures and the powerpoints create a powerful advocacy tool that any stakeholder in the community development process can use to argue persuasively for the value and benefits of higher density affordable housing.
Higher density housing – often referred to as “compact housing” - helps us to respond to two significant problems facing American cities and suburbs today. The first is sprawl - with its aggressive land use, extended commutes, and increased reliance on the automobile for even minor household trips. The second is the escalating cost of housing and its impact on affordability – a problem that is facing virtually every community in the United States.
Although compact, higher density housing can help solve these critical problems, it typically meets fierce resistance. The lecture series is designed to help overcome this resistance by demystifying the term “density” and by demonstrating the advantages of well-designed compact housing. The lectures in the series will answer three key questions:
· “What is density?”
· “What does density look like?” and
· “How can I use good design to create compact, high density
housing developments that are attractive, high quality and affordable
places to live?”
The lectures reveal that resistance to higher housing density is often misplaced, and that - with good site planning and careful design - higher density housing developments can be wonderful places to live. Equally important, with appropriate attention to neighborhood contexts, these developments can also be wonderful to live next to.
The lectures are given by Tom Jones, the previous Executive Director of the California Futures Network and current Dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California State Polytechnic University. Tom is also the co-author of a seminal book on affordable housing design entitled Good Neighbors: Affordable Family Housing..
Please click here to go to the lectures.
