Place + OpportunityStrategies for Creating Great Communities and a Stronger Region

Mobility Lab | February 27, 2014

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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

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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?

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Strong Transportation

Network

StrongActivityCenters

Why do Activity Centers Matter?

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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

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Report Overview

2/3 of Centers Analyzed

PlaceTypes

OpportunityTypes

Goals Goals

Strategies Strategies

Tools Tools

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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

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4 Opportunity Types Transitioning

Wheaton

Connected Core

Clarendon King Farm

Stable

Poplar Point

Transforming

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Example:Rosslyn

Photo: washingtonpost.com

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Urban Center

Add Parks & Public Space

Maximize Market Potential

Rosslyn: Types Goals

Connected Core Center Expand Affordability

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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

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Example:Shirlington

Photo: Assemblyrow.com

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Dense Mixed-Use Center

Encourage AdditionalMix of Uses

Add Parks & Public Space

Shirlington: Types Goals

Leverage Existing AssetsStable Center

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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

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Example: Columbia PikeTown Center

Photo: bettercities.net

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Close-In & Urbanizing Center

Transforming Center

Create Stronger Brand/Image

Create New/Strengthen Existing Land Uses

Columbia Pike Town Center: Types Goals

Stabilize & Preserve

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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

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Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center

URBAN FABRIC

DESTINATIONS

COMFORT

LIVELINESS & UPKEEP

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Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center

EASIEST TO CHANGE (LOWEST-HANGING FRUIT)

HARDEST TO CHANGE

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Digging into urban form: Columbia Pike Town Center

LOW-SCORING (NEEDS) HIGH-SCORING

(ASSETS)

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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

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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 rhand@mwcog.org | Sophie Mintier smintier@mwcog.org