By Jonathan Brown of JHP Architecture/Urban Design The essence of a thriving city lies in its diversity. Dynamic urban landscapes can achieve this effect by offering a robust mix of uses that cater to a wide range of people, keeping their streets and buildings lively and vibrant throughout the day and into the night. City administrators, architects and master planners have long sought the alchemical mixture for this success. However, zoning codes for various municipalities can often read like complex recipes: A cup of residential here, a few ounces of retail there, a pinch of municipal infrastructure all around, a dash of hidden parking and a sprinkling of community open space to really tie the flavors together! Successful placemaking is not simply the sum composition of all its parts; it requires thoughtful integration and balance. With today’s housing shortages, multifamily developments make sense, but integrating retail uses within those projects is challenging. This is despite the fact that many comprehensive plans and zoning codes mandate specific retail quotas, which may not be easily supported by the economics. Creating vibrant, engaging spaces requires more than just ticking boxes in the zoning code. Stakeholders want to avoid ending up with a …
