Sound Familiar?

Here's an interesting article from Planetizen posted  on 4/2/13

Density Done Well, and Not Just Downtown

Author Brent Todarian, the former Chief Planner for the city of Vancouver, BC, tells of how over a 20 year period Vancouver has consistently enhanced their city using Smart Growth principles.

Here in U-Heights it has been hard to encourage some people to look at some higher density projects as well as mixed use projects that are at the heart of smart growth, and would help lead to a higher quality lifestyle for all of our residents. The two phrases I've heard most frequently over the last four years from those opposed to One University Place are "We're not a big city" and "We are a residential community." So when I read the article above I was struck by several points, including the idea that we in U-Heights are in essence "suburbia." Think about our town when you read this quote from the article:

"Unfortunately, even gentle forms of density can be especially controversial in the suburbs. Something as simple as secondary suites in single detached homes or backyard granny/”Fonzi” suites can lead to big battles. This has to change if city-regions stand a chance of addressing their serious issues." 

Substitute "landlocked small towns" for "city-regions" in the last sentence and it pretty well sums up the discussions regarding One University Place.

For quality development, Todarian proposes three guidelines:

1. Aligning your land-uses and how you get around!

2. Be unashamed to have a consistently high urban design standard!

3. Amenities make density enjoyable!

The first two points, we have some history with. U-Heights successfully fought an attempt to make Melrose Ave. a four lane through U-Heights. This is exactly what Vancouver did in the '60's when they prevented highways from cutting the city into pieces. We have had a high quality design standards as well,. Requiring a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to be agreed to prior to approval of any major redevelopment or infill project (Grandview and Birkdale) have assured consistent and quality results.

As to the third point, Todarian says it pretty succintly here:

"Amenities support public life, and the denser it gets, the more such amenities are needed. Design your density with parks, recreational and people places; childcare and schools; and cultural, civic and heritage offerings.

On top of publiclly owned amenities, density brings the population for market-driven amenities like the coffee shop, pub, grocery store and farmers market.

These amenities, public and privately owned, make density livable, lovable and successful, for all ages and for families if you design for them all."

This is where having some mixed use commercial at the intersection of our two arterial streets (Melrose and Sunset) could have have tremendous payback to our community.