Mixed-Use Development

 

With all the recent talk about mixed-use development, just what exactly is it and why is it important? The goal of mixed-use is to create a community where people live, work, and play in the same neighborhood. Mixed-use development is the epitome of what a traditional downtown looks like; shops, restaurants, businesses, and residential units all sharing the same space. It occurs at varying scales such as; within a building, a street, or a neighborhood. This is the opposite of most of today’s new development is; big box stores, subdivisions, and office parks. These are all single-use districts with limited access to the rest of the city, usually only serviceable by car. This type of development is the result of archaic zoning codes aiming to separate industries that were once incompatible with the rest of the city.

Typical Mixed-use building
Image courtesy of milhausmixeduse.wordpress.com

In order to create a mixed-use community stakeholders must come together with a common goal, architects must plan mixed-use buildings and policies set by cities and planners must support it as well. Another reason mixed-use development is good for a community is the economic benefit, mixed-use development creates more tax revenue for a city, while taking up less acreage. Mixed-use development offers more residents and more jobs per acre.

From a health perspective, mixed-use communities are ideal because they have everything a person needs within walking distance. Research has shown that people who live in mixed-use communities are more physically active. They are able to walk to their daily needs which increases activity, but also the time saved fighting traffic allows them to engage in more activities. With many amenities in walking distance and a raising walking population it is important that communities encourage safety for pedestrians and other non motorists.

Businesses have started to see the benefits of mixed-use development as well. We mentioned in a previous article how major companies are transforming their corporate campuses into mixed-use developments. The US military has also shifted their policies to alter how they build military bases. Mixed-use development is a great way to support healthy and sustainable communities from the planning and policy level and work at a smaller scale such as businesses or at a larger city scale.

 

Silicon Valley Advances Ahead of Apple

When Apple unveils its latest creation the rest of the tech industry scrambles to follow in its footsteps, thankfully that is not the case when it comes to urban planning and the wellbeing of their employees. Last year Steve Jobs announced Apple’s plans for a new corporate office in Cupertino, California. When asked by the city council how Apple will help the city Steve Jobs simply replied that they will pay their taxes. The building’s sleek looks and futuristic design astonished many people. Unfortunately when planners see this plan they view it as a missed opportunity to improve the community. The single use building sits on 175 acres with parking for 12,000 employees, with easy access to highway 280. Apple again emphasized their pro-car stance when introducing their new maps features in iOS 6 whose key features include turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic updates, and the ability to sync with your new car.

Area plan for Apple’s new “spaceship” campus
Image courtesy of http://www.9to5mac.com

Most people spend many hours of their day at work and commuting to and from work, leaving little time for exercise. One way to include physical activity into our work day is by walking or biking to/from work and using breaks/lunch to go outside and be active. Employers benefit financially from healthy employees. Many companies are starting employee wellness programs, which in turn will boost employee productivity and lower costs of employers. Employers can encourage healthy lifestyles by promoting public transit use and encouraging walking and biking to work through design and infrastructure: open stair wells, bike racks, sidewalks, and office location close to public transit and in mixed use neighborhoods.

When Google decided to expand their headquarters they reached out to their community of Mountain View, CA to change the course of the city’s development. Mountain View’s updated master plan includes mixed-use infill development, walking and biking paths, increasing public transit, and a focus on community connectivity. The largest portions of the development is residential aimed at younger professionals working for the tech giant. The goal is for all components to work together to form a sustainable 24/7, live/work community.

Amazon headquarter plans
Image courtesy of: http://allthingsd.com

Amazon announced their plans in March to develop three blocks in downtown Seattle. The massive project will include three new office towers as well as retail and near by residential. The site in South Lake Union is a great neighborhood that has a both an extremely high walkscore and transitscore. The site Apple has chosen for their project only scores a 49 for walking and even worse for public transit. Amazon’s new development will create 15% more leasable space than Apple’s project on just a fraction of the acreage.

Apple’s new headquarters is aptly named “the spaceship campus” because of its perfectly round shape that resembles a flying saucer. This building and surrounding area is really something from another world, unfortunately it will be built on this world, for real people.