Economics of Urban Design Policy PowerPoint Presentation

8/13/2019 Economics of Urban Design Policy PowerPoint Presentation

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Objectives

o Introduction to Urban Design

o Economic Implications Overviewo Social & Environmental Benefitso The Cost of Good Urban Design

o Research Indications

Image Sources: planetizen (left);foursquare.com (above)


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UrbanDesign

Defined

The art of creating and shaping cities and towns. Urbandesign is the process of giving form, shape, and

character to groups of buildings, to wholeneighborhoods, and the city.

Source: The Center for Design Excellence

What isgood urban

design?

Impossible to define.

You know it when you see it.

What do

urban designpolicies

regulate?

o Architectureo Building Materialso Land-Use

o Densityo Sustainable Infrastructureo Streetscape Designo Signageo Parking Requirements

Source: dcoz.dc.gov


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James Howard KunstlersThe Geography of Nowhere

Eighty percent of everythingever built in North America hasbeen built in the last 50 yearsand most of it is brutal,depressing, ugly, unhealthyand spiritually degrading...

-James Howard KunstlerThe Geography of Nowhere

Image Source: www.kunstler.com


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Olathe, KS: Santa Fe Street

Image Source: pricetags.wordpress.com


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Sprawl in Orlando, FL

Image Source: planetizen


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Topeka, KS: Wanamaker Road

Image Source: The Topeka Capital -Journal


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Government Intervention can prevent bad urban

design. But what are the economic implications?

Image Source: Matt Buchanan


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ResearchQuestion

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What are the

economic consequences

of urban design regulation?

Thesis

Good urban design is praised for producingstrong social and environmental benefits, which

are not easi ly quantif ied. Evidence suggests,however, that these benefits do translate to

increased economic viabil ity, despite higherupfront construction costs.

Source: Urbanrelations.info

Source: Hostilegospel, Tumblr


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Social & Environmental Benefits:Public & Private Goods Created

Exclusive Nonexclusive

Rival

Pure Private GoodsMixed-Use propertiesAffordable housing dedicationsNon-profit office space dedicationsChildcare space dedicationsSustainable buildingsDisaster-resilient buildings

Limited garage parkingCongested streetsCongested sidewalks

Non-

Rival

Parking garagesSidewalk diningCommunity garden coop

Pure Public GoodsArchitecture/attractive built-environmentPublic art/landscaping/fountainsStreet performance art spaceWalkability/Human-scale developmentDedications for plazas/ green spaceSustainable environment


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Social & Environmental Benefits:Externalities

Production ctionFaade Control

Regulations

Direct ImpactHigh QualityArchitecture

Indirect ImpactDistinct

Sense of Place

Production ctionHuman-Scale Density

Regulations

Direct ImpactWalkable

Neighborhoods

Indirect ImpactHealthier Lifestyles

Lower Vehicle Emissions

Production ctionMixed-Income Multi-

Family HousingRequirements

Direct ImpactDiverse

Population

Indirect ImpactUpward Mobility

Reduced Crime

Source: Brophy & Smith, 1997

Source: Frumkin, 2002

Source: Buchanan, 2012

How do you quantify these benefits?

How can they be included in Cost/Benefit Analysis?


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Assessing the Costsof Good Urban Design

o Tangible Costs

oHigher upfront construction costs

oHigher architect fees

o Responsibility over public/private spaces (i.e. plazas)

o Intangible Costso Time

o Frustration

o Cost Considerations

o Can be a risky investment

o Longer payback time

Source: Carmona, 2001 Image Source: knapplc, huskerboard.com


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Urban Design IncreasesEconomic Viability

Research suggests that good urban design adds v alue by increasing theeconomic viabi l i ty of development and by del iver ing social andenvi ronmental benef i ts .

Good urban design adds economic value by:

o producing high ROI over t ime

o placing developments above local competi t ion at l i t t le cost

o responding to occupier demand

o helping to del iver more lettable area (higher densi t ies)

o reducing management, maintenance, energy and secur i ty costs

o contr ibut ing to more contented and productive workforces

o support ing the l i fe giv ing mixed -use elements in developments

o creating an urban regenerat ion and place market ing div idendo different iat ing places and rais ing thei r prest ige

o opening up investment opportunit ies, ra is ing conf idence in developmentopportunit ies and attract ing grant monies

o reducing the cost to the publ ic purse of rect i fy ing urban design mistakes.

Source: Carmona, 2001


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Conclusions

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o Social & environmental benefits (public goods)are difficult to quantify

o Increased financial risk to developerso Research indicates high risk of investing in good

design often returns high reward on investment

Source: avagabonde.blogspot.com


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Works Cited

Brophy, P. C., & Smith, R. N. (1997). Mixed -Income Housing: Factors forsuccess. Cityscape: A journal of pol icy development and research , 3-31.

Buchanan, M. (2013). Downtown Lawrence Performance-Based DesignStandards.

Buchanan, P. (2012, July 24). The Big Rething: Place and al iveness: Pattern,

play and the planet. The Architectural Review .

Carmona, M., De Magalhaes, C., Edwards, B., Awuor, B. , & Aminossehe, S.(2001). The Value of Urban Design. London: Thomas Tel ford.

The Center for Design Excel lence. Urban Design . Retr ieved May 14, 2013, f romUrbandesign.org: http://www.urbandesign.org/

Frumkin, H. M. (2002). Urban Sprawl and Publ ic Health. Publ ic Health Reports ,201-217.

Kunst ler , J . H. (1993). The Geography of Nowhere. New York: S imon & Schuster .

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Works Cited

Economics of Urban Design Policy PowerPoint Presentation

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