Place + OpportunityStrategies for Creating Great Communities and a Stronger Region
Mobility Lab | February 27, 2014
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Which attributes make a community successful?
Multimodal Transportation Walkable Streets
Parking Options
Public Spaces/Parks
Urban Character
Civic / Cultural
Facilities
Anchor Employer
Infrastructure Investments
Higher Education
Diverse Housing
Types
Multi-Modal Transportation Choices
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Places targeted for regional growth
Urban & suburban centers, traditional towns, emerging communities
Consistent with local planning
Mixed-use
Aligned with existing &planned transportation network
What Are Activity Centers?
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Strong Transportation
Network
StrongActivityCenters
Why do Activity Centers Matter?
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Finding (& Sharing) What Works
• Regional perspective: Activity Centers with common characteristics can benefit from similar strategies
• Creates “common playbook”
• Facilitates regional knowledge-sharing—local governments can learn from each other
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Report Overview
2/3 of Centers Analyzed
PlaceTypes
OpportunityTypes
Goals Goals
Strategies Strategies
Tools Tools
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6 Place Types Urban Center
Downtown DC
Dense Mixed-Use
Reston Town Center
Suburban Multi-Use
Falls Church
West Hyattsville Minnesota Avenue
Close-in & Urbanizing Revitalizing Urban Satellite City
Downtown Frederick
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4 Opportunity Types Transitioning
Wheaton
Connected Core
Clarendon King Farm
Stable
Poplar Point
Transforming
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Example:Rosslyn
Photo: washingtonpost.com
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Urban Center
Add Parks & Public Space
Maximize Market Potential
Rosslyn: Types Goals
Connected Core Center Expand Affordability
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Rosslyn: Strategies & ToolsZoning Intervention
• Minimum densities• Design guidelines to
improve pedestrian environment
• Require additional open space
Public Finance Options
• Tax increment finance
• Tax abatements/ credits
Housing Stock Diversification• Universal design
modification• Employer-assisted
housing
Affordable Housing Development• Enhance inclusionary zoning
policies• Density bonuses for
additional units• Expedited permitting,
streamlined development review for affordable projects
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Example:Shirlington
Photo: Assemblyrow.com
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Dense Mixed-Use Center
Encourage AdditionalMix of Uses
Add Parks & Public Space
Shirlington: Types Goals
Leverage Existing AssetsStable Center
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Development Incentives
• Density bonuses• Reduced impact fees• Transfer of Development
Rights (TDR)
Public Private Partnership
• Land swaps/donations• Joint development/
development assistance
Shirlington: Strategies & Tools
Business Retention & Promotion• Revolving micro-loan fund• Façade improvements
Commercial & Job Diversification• Identify retail & services gaps• Temporary/pilot/ flexible
businesses, e.g. food trucks, pop-ups
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Example: Columbia PikeTown Center
Photo: bettercities.net
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Close-In & Urbanizing Center
Transforming Center
Create Stronger Brand/Image
Create New/Strengthen Existing Land Uses
Columbia Pike Town Center: Types Goals
Stabilize & Preserve
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Development Incentives
• Prioritize catalyst projects
• Land banking• Density bonuses• Reduced impact fees
Public-PrivatePartnerships
Develop StewardshipEntities
• Land swaps/donations• Joint development/
development assistance
• Special services district• Business improvement
district (BID)• Catalytic development
entity (CDE)
Columbia Pike Town Center:Strategies & Tools
Business Retention & Promotion• Revolving micro-loan fund• Technical assistance for
small-/locally-owned businesses
• Façade improvements• Local hiring & contracting
provisions
Affordable Housing Preservation• Long-term affordability
covenants• Shared-equity
homeownership• Just-cause eviction
controls
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Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center
URBAN FABRIC
DESTINATIONS
COMFORT
LIVELINESS & UPKEEP
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Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center
EASIEST TO CHANGE (LOWEST-HANGING FRUIT)
HARDEST TO CHANGE
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Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center
LOW-SCORING (NEEDS) HIGH-SCORING
(ASSETS)
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Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center• Place need = Proximity
Proximity strategies:• Charrette to identify community needs• New walkable destinations – markets,
gathering places, etc.• Temporary/flexible programming – food
trucks, farmers markets, public events
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Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center• Place need = Parks & Public Spaces
Parks & Public Spaces strategies:• ID locations for new parks/public spaces• Public-private partnerships to develop
quasi-public spaces• Better programming/upkeep of existing
parks & public spaces
Report available at www.regionforward.org/reportsRyan Hand [email protected] | Sophie Mintier [email protected]
