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The Value of Good Design During Development
A project that strives for good design -i.e., which consciously and aggressively tries to meets user needs, enhance its neighborhood, respond well to its context and be built to last - can use this dedication to design quality to:
- Energize/galvanize and cohere future resident support for the project.
- Involve and placate surrounding neighbors who may initially be wary of the project.
- Overcome NIMBYism and stigmatization.
- Improve and accelerate project approvals.
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Open workshops galvanized the neighbors of this Santa Monica, California development, who came to realize that well designed affordable housing, even at higher than usual densities, could be better for their community than the type of project - which maximizes unit size and bulk - that for-profit developers typically propose.
(Ocean Park Co-op)
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Design quality completely turned around initial attitudes toward this Woodburn, Oregon development. The architect observed, "All the members of the public who came to speak against the development turned into supporters after seeing the presentations and drawings. During construction, people living in adjacent market-rate apartments called to ask if they could rent apartments."
(Nuevo Amanecer Apartments)
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Although numerous meetings were held to solicit neighborhood input, residents of the community surrounding this Montgomery County, Maryland development vigorously opposed the project before the planning commission. The did not believe what the developer was telling them about the design. But when they saw the actual buildings the opposition vanished. Commented one neighbor, "It turned out much better than we expected. They allow us to use their community center for board meetings, which is a benefit."
(Timberlawn Crescent)
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The design quality of this Stamford, Connecticut project has established a good precedent for future affordable housing in the area. As a member of the planning and zoning board noted, "Parkside Gables set a high standard - in the future we will view affordable housing very favorably."
(Parkside Gables)
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