Density Calls

Developers answer the cry for urbanized living.

Source: MULTIFAMILY EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE

Publication date: February 15, 2006
By Greg Vilkin

In the past 15 years, multifamily living has surged in popularity. This is especially true in downtown and city neighborhoods, in locations near light rail, and in new suburban town centers that combine residential, office, and retail in walkable environments.

Energy concerns may advance this trend toward infill as more people become conscious of the potential utility and transportation savings of urban apartments, condos, and townhomes. Even national single-family home builders are building multifamily homes in mixed-use environments.

Yet we still live in the land of the American Dream, where the ideal for many remains a single-family house with a yard. To ensure a continued demand for multifamily homes, we in the industry must build real places, not just "housing units," placing density in the context of well-designed, livable neighborhoods. To become treasured places that succeed over time, mixed-use, multifamily (and multi-story) residential neighborhoods need shops, services, parks, recreation, and a safe, walkable public environment.

Such results pay off for developers as well as residents. You cannot oversell the benefits of an attractive, complete urban environment outside your door.
But accomplishing this, as many know, is easier said than done. What do private developers need to do to make livable projects not only "pencil out," but gain and sustain value over time? To me, two tasks rise to the top of the list: connecting with the community and creating a wonderful property.

Group Effort

Building livable density is truly a community effort. A multifamily developer can propose a great building, but they need partners to create mixed-use zoning, retail services, pedestrian-oriented streets, public transit, and parks and greenways.

This is a complex, collaborative and ultimately political process. It may involve educating public officials about mixed-use zoning, working with neighborhoods concerned about density, and assembling public and private funds to build your project and associated public amenities.
Some aspects may not be as difficult as you expect. Many communities do lack the zoning and the experience to guide creation of a complex multi-use environment. But leaders may have seen such developments happen elsewhere and, as a result, have the interest and the political will to support such a project in their city or neighborhood.