This module is intended to help supporters of housing affordability describe the many benefits of "density" for a variety of audiences.
Supporters of housing affordability tend to see density as a means to add affordable dwellings to a site, spreading the costs of their construction, often allowing a mixed-income site outcome.
But while adding to the affordable housing stock is important to sustain our diverse community, it's only one of many positives of what are increasingly recognized as "great spaces." "Great" as in bigger perhaps, but also: attractive, engaging, entertaining, richly varied, worth exploring, "have everything," etc.
In land-use terms, "density" usually refers to the number of housing units per acre or other measure of land. But in Arlington and other smart-growth communities, density goes beyond numbers to desirable community characteristics---increased transit access, ample customers for walkable retail, planned green space, and environmental benefits.
Dimensions of Density
To explore the dimensions of density/great spaces, the Alliance for Housing Solutions brought together a group of experts for its May 2014 JACKtalk (a forum for emerging ideas in housing). Link below to key points from the forum and other sources.
Link to a quick Prezi overview of key message points.
Demand
The community attributes that density allows are increasingly in demand by all demographic sectors, from Gen Y to Boomers to Seniors.
Susan Ingraham Bell shared America in 2013 survey results showing that demand.
Link to her presentation and to the survey results.
Economic drive
Great spaces absolutely drive economic development and sustainability---creating office and retail jobs, bringing employees closer to their workplaces, and contributing to the tax base.
Sophie Mintier of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
explains why her organization studies the area's "activity centers."
Link to her presentation and to
Place + Opportunity: Strategies for Creating Great Communities.
Walkable perform$ better
Especially when near other walkable places, walkable neighborhoods have economic advantages, as documented in the Washington region.
Great can be green
Designed density leads to lower vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and reduced CO2 levels, in some cases up to 40%.
Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth explains.
Looking good
Even when folks understand the economic and green benefits of denser development, they still want it to look good. And, let's face it, a lot of "old school" density was pretty ugly before it got "smart." Great spaces come in various shapes and sizes.
Kris Krider, Center for Urban Design and Research, Arlington County, shows us that "cool" density can fit seamlessly into single family neighborhoods.
Link to his presentation.
From the EPA, Creating Great Neighborhoods: Density in Your Community
Dispelling Myths
You may need additional facts to counter some common myths about density (that it reduces property values, burdens schools and public infrastructure, and the like). Here's some help with that.
From the Urban Land Institute, Higher Density Development: Myth and Fact
AHS thanks its generous sponsors
The organizations that sponsored our May 2014 JACKtalk event also helped make this module possible---
