HR&A Advisors’ Post

Kevin A. Aundre Oldacre Adin Meir Eric C. Colin Milner will be discussing lessons learned from retrofit programs in NYC! #Retrofits in New York City face several challenges, making them particularly difficult compared to other locations: WHY? 1. Old Infrastructure: Older buildings have outdated electrical, plumbing, and structural systems that require significant updates to support modern retrofits. 2. Regulatory Environment: Zoning Laws: NYC has complex zoning laws that can restrict changes to a building's use, height, or footprint. 3. Building Codes: Strict building codes aimed at safety and energy efficiency can make retrofits more complicated and costly. Space Constraints: 4. Limited Space: NYC’s dense urban environment means limited space for construction staging, storage of materials, and placement of equipment. Vertical Buildings: High-rise buildings present unique challenges, such as the need for cranes and other specialized equipment to work at height. 5. Permitting Process: Bureaucratic Hurdles: Obtaining the necessary permits can be a lengthy and complex process, involving multiple city agencies. 6. Community Approval: Projects often require approval from community boards, which can introduce delays and additional requirements. Cost: 7. High Labor and Material Costs: The cost of labor and materials is higher in NYC compared to many other places. Financing: Securing financing for retrofits can be challenging, especially for extensive projects. 8. Tenant Considerations: Occupied Buildings: Many retrofits occur in buildings that are still occupied, necessitating careful planning to minimize disruption to tenants. Tenant Relocation: In some cases, tenants may need to be temporarily relocated, adding to the project's complexity and cost. Addressing these challenges requires careful planning, collaboration with regulatory bodies, and often innovative solutions to balance the preservation of historical aspects with the integration of modern technologies. #leadership

Why corporations moved to the suburbs: "The Birth of the Pastoral Corporation" (Plus- Louis Sullivan) Ponder the prominence of the periphery... #architecture #corporateheadquarters #corporation #design #development #engineering #history #landscapedesign #louissullivan #luisemozingo #modernism #officespace #offices #officebuildings #headquarters #prairieschool #skyscraper #suburban #suburb #suburbs #urbandevelopment #urbanplanning #urbanstudies

In the realm of urban development, progress is more often than not a marathon, not a sprint, and this rings especially true for the pervasive redevelopment of the gigantic Collin Creek Mall in Plano. - Underneath the surface level facade of perceived stagnancy, work has been steadily advancing. A noteworthy milestone just reached is the construction of a substantial underground parking garage, a foundational logistical component required in large scale, complex renovations such as this. - Besides modernizing infrastructure above ground, an unsung rehabilitation effort is taking place beneath the surface - old, deteriorating culverts once hidden under the concrete sprawl are currently under restoration. Do not mistake a quiet surface to mean a lack of activity below. Much like an iceberg, the unseen element of this billion-dollar project contains the majority of the progress, and hence deserves the spotlight. These undertakings have made evident: 1. The efficacy of thorough planning in overcoming logistical challenges. 2. The integrated effort toward environmental respect by restoring the old watercourses. 3. The augmented emphasis on sustainable development principles, an intrinsic part of would-be leading urban landscapes. The next milestones poised for realization in this grand project are eagerly awaited, and they hold promises of substantial value, not only to investors but also, significantly, for community building within Plano. This project's progress is likely to have deeper implications on urban development methodologies, potentially serving as an exemplary model spelling out that underneath every successful urban redevelopment project is a meticulous blend of modernization and sustainability. #CollinCreekRedevelopment #UrbanRehabilitation #SustainableDevelopment #UrbanPlanning Final Words: Stay tuned and maintain an eye on the strides of the Collin Creek Mall - more is underway than meets the eye!

The EIGHTEENTH post in my "32 days of Case Studies in Retrofitting Suburbia" project. Case Study II.18: Historic Fourth Ward Park, Atlanta, GA, USA Can the #regreening of 17 acres of parking lots into a stormwater park trigger award-winning lot #redevelopment, building #reinhabitation, and trail building on a grand scale? That's the case that can be made by Atlanta's decision to address its combined sewer overflow (CSO) problem with a $23 million stormwater park instead of a $40 million underground tunnel. Historic Fourth Ward Park attracted the first major investment to support the Atlanta #BeltLine. By solving the site's recurring flooding problems, the park enabled the renovation of a large vacant Sears distribution warehouse into Ponce City Market, a highly successful mixed-use complex with a popular food hall.   For some, however, Fourth Ward Park is seen as an example of "eco-gentrification." Is the lesson learned that we shouldn't invest in great design that integrates stormwater solutions into beautiful parks? Hardly. But we recommend that municipalities planning similar green infrastructure upgrades should anticipate the potential for displacement and get ahead of it.   Team: Markham Smith Architects, HDR, Trust for Public Land, Wood Partners.   Image: Before-and-after diagrams looking northeast show the former parking lots regreened into Historic Fourth Ward Park adjacent to the BeltLine trail. Source: Authors. #RetrofittingSuburbia #urbandesign #urbandevelopment #regreening #reinhabitation #AddWaterandEnergyResilience #CompeteforJobs ULI Australia Suburban Futures Ellen Dunham-Jones Mike Day of Hatch

Planetizen | Peter Calthorpe calls this the “grand boulevard” strategy, noting that it “could be implemented with a basic form-based code with zero parking requirements.” “A 15 percent inclusionary zoning requirement would create 300,000 affordable housing units in the Golden State.” That strategy is central to a 2023 California state law, AB 2011, which allows for more mixed-use development and higher density in certain areas. “Using UrbanFootprint software, Calthorpe analyzed a 43-mile commercial corridor between San Francisco and San Jose, the El Camino Real. Reimagining this as a grand boulevard allows 3,500 acres of infill development, with up to 250,000 dwelling units—some with ground-floor commercial space.” Infill development on Bay Area commercial corridors could create over 1 million new housing units.

📢 Exciting update! The decision on the construction of a skyscraper as tall as The Shard has been postponed due to public square concerns. This development is sparking important conversations about urban planning and community impact. Check out the full article from the Evening Standard to stay informed. #SkyscraperDecision #UrbanPlanning #CommunityEngagement https://ift.tt/98nIwtR

Can a mixed-use redevelopment combat the loneliness epidemic? Professor Dunham-Jones' and Williamson's Case Study #23 explicitly tries to do just that. And even if they can't prove the results, they're impressed with how this retrofit layered typical big floor plate uses like cinemas, office, parking, and a Target department store above fine-grain retail and restaurants at street level and surrounding the inviting LED-programmed town green.

"As anyone with a fourth-grade knowledge of biology understands, life comes into being through partnership. In the biology of cities, these partnerships form in pursuit of shared economic, intellectual, or political goals. These goals are accomplished by neighbors forming groups dedicated to pursuing a shared good life. If those partnerships fail to develop in a city, the first thing to do is fix the requirements for those partnerships. In the city, this first requires basic civic order. It then requires spaces in which partnerships can form and bear fruit. At this second level, Hillsdale Renaissance begins by restoring Downtown Hillsdale’s architecture and infrastructure."

Can a mixed-use redevelopment combat the loneliness epidemic? Case Study #23 explicitly tries to do just that. And even if we can't prove the results, we're impressed with how this retrofit layered typical big floor plate uses like cinemas, office, parking, and a Target department store above fine-grain retail and restaurants at street level and surrounding the inviting LED-programmed town green.

Beaumont Hills Park opens to the public! A new park in Beaumont Hills, beneath the elevated Metro North West Line, sets a new benchmark for Sydney. Like Victoria’s Level Crossing Removal Project, Beaumont Hills Park transforms neglected and under utilised rail land into an active space with highly sought-after community amenities. Designed by PLACE Lab, the park's features, including a skate plaza, pump track, and multi-purpose courts, have been carefully chosen based on direct input from the community. It's a subtle yet significant nod to the neighborhood's diverse needs and preferences. Convergence, a colourful mural by artist Beastman, links the elements together and brings the design to life. The NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure, along with their Parks for People program and The Hills Shire, have strategically selected the Beaumont Hills site to engage TransportNSW in the idea of activating railway corridors. Complex negotiations with TfNSW rail asset team throughout the project signal the beginning of a positive shift in attitude towards public use of land around and under the metro corridor. As Sydney’s urban planning policies lead to more housing near train stations, parks like Beaumont Hills play a vital role in shaping our communal spaces. It's a quiet revolution, a modest testament to the evolving dynamics of urban planning, showing that thoughtful design and community input can transform neglected spots into essential gathering places for everyone. Client: NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure, Parks for People program with The Hills Shire Project Team: Project Management: Benaiah Project Management Contractor: Fresh Landscapes Group Community consultation: JOC Consulting Design Lead and Landscape Architecture: PLACE Lab Skate and pump track design: Playce Pty Ltd Civil and structural: Hyve Lighting: Webb Heritage: EMM Consulting Pty Limited Artist: Beastman (Brad Eastman) Fiona Morrison Bec Watson Shlomit Strum Walter Van Der Loo Yvonne Khor Jacob Newton Jackson Buckley John O'Callaghan Stuart Dutton Joshua Hendriks #Sydney #BeaumontHills #parks4people #landscapearchitecture #urbanlife #skatepark