Cincinnati Neighborhood Business District Study

Author : Jonathan J. S. Wood
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 110 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (71 download)

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Download or read book Toward Responsible Development written by Jonathan J. S. Wood and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Market driven urban infill developments, on paper, either succeed or fail based on profits and losses. Developments that seem profitable on paper are not always successful when the project is complete. The spreadsheets and pro formas used by developers calculate a multitude of figures associated with land acquisition, construction costs, financing, and future income generated by the development. These spreadsheets, however, fail to recognize the value associated with the architecture of great buildings and great spaces. These issues are exemplified in the recent redevelopment of urban Cincinnati. Successful developments have generated lasting value for the city and for the developer. Unsuccessful developments have, at best, created short-term profit for the developer and at worst, destroyed the urban fabric and become a visual and economic detriment to the city. It is clear that there is no specific set of design guidelines to encourage value-based responsible development in urban and suburban Cincinnati. It is also clear that this irresponsible, single-use, auto-oriented development threatens the pedestrian nature of neighborhood business districts in the suburbs of Cincinnati. This thesis will utilize critical research of some modern urbanism including ideas surrounding the Functional City and some reactions to the modern ideas including the Congress for the New Urbanism to gain an understanding of the current state of development in Cincinnati. This study will test the viability of the cannons adopted by The Congress for The New Urbanism as a possible solution for infill development. Through the research and analysis, this study will define a set of neighborhood specific guidelines for the new infill development of future urban artifacts in Cincinnati. Specifically, this study will focus on the Cincinnati neighborhood of Mt. Washington and utilizing the design guidelines as a tool for developing value based responsible development. This study will culminate with a design project for an urban artifact for Mt. Washington. The design project will utilize the aforementioned design guidelines and will be presented in the form of physical models, drawings and digital renderings. The design project will be accompanied by a written and illustrated document. This document includes the critical research and the design guidelines and is available to local community councils and developers as a resource for responsible development.