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.
Plan for the Public 