which attributes make a community successful?
DESCRIPTION
A presentation by Sophie Mintier and her colleagues from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments at Mobility Lab in Arlington on February 27, 2014. This looks at the Arlington examples of Rosslyn, Shirlington, and Columbia Pike.TRANSCRIPT
Place + OpportunityStrategies for Creating Great Communities and a Stronger Region
Mobility Lab | February 27, 2014
2
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
6
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?
7
Strong Transportation
Network
StrongActivityCenters
Why do Activity Centers Matter?
8
9
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
10
Report Overview
2/3 of Centers Analyzed
PlaceTypes
OpportunityTypes
Goals Goals
Strategies Strategies
Tools Tools
11
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
12
4 Opportunity Types Transitioning
Wheaton
Connected Core
Clarendon King Farm
Stable
Poplar Point
Transforming
13
Example:Rosslyn
Photo: washingtonpost.com
14
Urban Center
Add Parks & Public Space
Maximize Market Potential
Rosslyn: Types Goals
Connected Core Center Expand Affordability
15
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
16
Example:Shirlington
Photo: Assemblyrow.com
17
Dense Mixed-Use Center
Encourage AdditionalMix of Uses
Add Parks & Public Space
Shirlington: Types Goals
Leverage Existing AssetsStable Center
18
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
19
Example: Columbia PikeTown Center
Photo: bettercities.net
20
Close-In & Urbanizing Center
Transforming Center
Create Stronger Brand/Image
Create New/Strengthen Existing Land Uses
Columbia Pike Town Center: Types Goals
Stabilize & Preserve
21
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
22
Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center
URBAN FABRIC
DESTINATIONS
COMFORT
LIVELINESS & UPKEEP
23
Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center
EASIEST TO CHANGE (LOWEST-HANGING FRUIT)
HARDEST TO CHANGE
24
Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center
LOW-SCORING (NEEDS) HIGH-SCORING
(ASSETS)
25
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
26
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]