Michael DiMella’s Post

“It’s hardly a new idea: Up until the middle of the 20th century, urban neighborhoods typically displayed a mix of uses... Houses were interlaced with corner groceries, basement bars and storefronts offering a range of goods and services… That approach ended with the postwar emergence of strict zoning codes and car-centric planning, which steered commercial activity to shopping strips and centers”. “Planners around the country (US) are learning more and more the background of zoning — its extreme limitations, extreme exclusion and how zoning doesn’t really deliver the communities we want to live in. Communities happen organically; communities happen because of flexibility” ~ Joel Dock, Metro office of planning, Louisville, Kentucky. “The University of Louisville’s Urban Design Studio is mapping the locations and conditions of the city’s historic corner stores, with a goal of assessing options for their rehabilitation as anchors for neighborhood revitalization and sites for launching new businesses”. “People living in cities want local stores and services they can walk to” ~ Spencer Gardner, Spokane’s director of planning. Commercial activity within residential neighbourhoods is a win for sustainability, quality of life, community cohesion and social fabric, physical and mental health, and the local economy. (Please don't look too closely at the automated image... 'cigarettes'!) #zoning #landuse #urbanplanning #walkability #liveability #community #cornerstore #localbusiness #activetransport #local Bloomberg CityLab https://lnkd.in/gTSyEpzy

Small-scale neighborhood retail is staging a post-Covid revival in many cities, thanks to a mix of zoning reforms, shopping trends and local incentives. https://lnkd.in/e6sjzAVi

Every day after school, my buddies and I would ride our Stingray and Raleigh Chopper bikes down to the corner market to get a pop, hang out on the front porch, and play the pinball machine in the back of the store if we had a few extra quarters to spare. For outsiders, that little corner market was easy to miss because it fit so comfortably within the context and scale of all the other homes in the neighborhood. But for insiders, this common ground hub was where everyone in the community passed through a few times a week to grab milk, bread, butter, and other scary concoctions soaking in a jar of salty, vinegary brine. The corner market is where we all said our hello's and caught up for a spell. But when the city folk discovered the beauty and low prices of our little hamlet, they bought up the properties, tore down the homes, and built outsized castles on the lots. They deemed our corner market an eyesore and public nuisance and lobbied the city change the zoning to prohibit commercial businesses in residential neighborhoods. All the small, local stores were pushed out to the commercial boulevard to get slaughtered by the big box stores. The mayor called it "progress," but we felt like it eliminated the intersection where everyone in our community crossed paths. For most of American life, neighborhoods had a mix of uses, such as cafes, pubs, shoe shops, nail salons, barber shops, and corner markets. However, as this insightful Bloomberg article by Linda Baker states, "That approach ended with the postwar emergence of strict zoning codes and car-centric planning, which steered commercial activity to shopping strips and centers." Sometimes, our best minds in planning, design, and government policy get things wrong, which is okay as long as they course-correct. The problem, however, is when they have huge budgets for demolition and asphalt and won't let go of draconian policies that have caused more harm than good to our climate, communities, and quality of life. There was a time when we believed that cars, highways, and suburban monoculture communities represented the future "good life," but now that people are working from home more, there is a desire to return to the idea of local shops, small businesses, and corner markets interlaced through our residential neighborhoods. We can now see how this mixed-use environment make for better, healthier, more walkable communities. #communities #neighborhoods #shops #retail #society #culture  #walkable #local

🏡 Is commercial development affecting the value of your home? 🏢 Ever wondered how nearby amenities or eyesores impact your property value? From upscale restaurants boosting appeal to scrap yards bringing it down, the surrounding commercial properties play a big role. Even factors like billboards, power lines, cemeteries, and school ratings can significantly affect home prices. Choose your neighborhood wisely! 🏠✨ #RealEstateTips #HomeValue #NeighborhoodMatters #ruspinirealty

This Bloomberg news piece highlights the growing trend of revitalizing small-scale neighborhood retail through zoning reforms and local incentives, which aligns with the increasing interest in making neighborhoods in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. more walkable and fostering community cohesion. These regions already embrace mixed-use developments and walkable urban centers, but zoning restrictions remain a common challenge. Implementing flexible zoning to allow corner stores and other small businesses in residential areas could mirror successful trends seen in other cities. Balancing new retail development with concerns about gentrification and affordable housing is critical, and this approach offers a potential framework for the D.C. metro area’s efforts to protect housing affordability while enhancing local retail options. At HannaCRE, we are ready to help you capitalize on the growing demand for neighborhood retail. Whether you're looking to invest in local retail spaces or navigate zoning changes, we can guide you through the process and connect you with prime opportunities. Reach out today to explore how we can position you for success in this evolving market! https://lnkd.in/ejki8ywm

 Affordable Housing Above Costco: A Creative Solution? A recent WSJ article highlights a bold approach to addressing the housing crisis: integrating affordable apartments above retail hubs like Costco. By repurposing commercial land, these projects bring much-needed housing to urban areas while offering residents easy access to jobs, groceries, and transit. For developers, this model offers a way to maximize land use and combine retail revenue with housing subsidies like LIHTC. But it also raises important challenges: navigating zoning regulations, ensuring financial feasibility, and meeting the unique needs of mixed-use tenants.  Your Thoughts: Could this approach transform how we think about urban housing? What opportunities—or challenges—do you see in creating these innovative spaces? Let’s discuss! https://lnkd.in/gT4fujCy #AffordableHousing #UrbanDevelopment #MixedUse #RealEstateInnovation #HousingCrisis #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityImpact #LIHTC

Another interesting proposal / potential business solution for housing insecurity! One of my business's goals and vested interests is to help reduce housing insecurity, and having volunteered in that space, it is crucial to develop and design creative solutions with a systems-focused, compassionate, sustainable mindset. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if you are on the verge of being homeless, try to disassociate yourself from the label of "homelessness," - don't identify with the label, assume the label of always being housing secure. I (and many others) have found lots of success and helpfulness with the Law of Attraction / Law of Assumption. Speaking for myself, in many professional contexts, in order to serve in different spaces, I've had to move many times (for example, I moved around 5 times in the time period of 2018-2022!) and had to learn to adapt to a more "lean" and "minimalist" lifestyle in order to manage my responsibilities at the time. Decision fatigue is real! In such cases, I find what is helpful is to think in terms of energy, even when the world is constantly changing in flux, to remember to stay grounded in the present, and not be thrown too off-balance by the environment, and to have fun and stay in a high level of vibration - whether it's keeping a sense of humor, or to check in with myself at any given time to know what's going to help me energetically - whether I'm travelling or staying one spot. In some cases, it can be helpful to think of things like a video game, and stay in good flow. Here is a nice song that I like, Glider by Japanese Breakfast, that embodies that message: https://lnkd.in/gzNvqF3b It's a song used in a videogame soundtrack, and the video game's name is "Sable:" https://lnkd.in/ghEpeTyf In a way, it reminds me of the game "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" one of my favorite games ever! I also know that having a stable home can be crucial for health and positive vibrations, so my company supports these kinds of efforts. Stay well, and Happy Sunday! You are loved!

Coffee Shop Proximity: Mapping Walkable Access in Bushwick, Brooklyn - FSQ Places This map highlights buildings in Bushwick that are near at least one coffee shop. Taller and darker buildings represent those within walking distance of multiple coffee shops. Here’s how I created it: 1️⃣ Isochrones: Using the Fused Get Isochrone UDF, I calculated 5-minute walking distances for all coffee shops in Bushwick. 2️⃣ H3 Integration: These walking areas were converted into H3 cells, with counts assigned based on overlapping walking areas. 3️⃣ Building Overlay: By merging the H3 data with Overture Buildings, I tied coffee shop proximity counts directly to buildings. This approach allows you to visualize the scale and click on buildings to see how many coffee shops are nearby—some buildings are close to 25 coffee shops! Having lived in this neighborhood, I’d say this map roughly correlates with rent prices. However, Bushwick doesn’t exist in isolation, and expanding this analysis would require incorporating coffee shops from nearby neighborhoods. This method can also be applied to other FSQ Places categories, such as grocery stores, restaurants, or parks. Thanks to Gabriel Durkin , DPhil., for suggesting this project.

Holiday shoppers headed to Southdale Center will find the storied Edina mall in transition, as owner Simon Property Group executes on its $400 million remodel. Here's the latest on the updates and timeline. https://lnkd.in/gA2r9EHM

A #realestate developer in Los Angeles is testing a new blueprint for affordable #housing: stack apartments on top of a Costco Wholesale. Thrive Living is planning to begin construction in early 2025 on an 800-unit affordable-housing complex with the megaretailer on the ground floor in the Baldwin Village neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The project, which includes a rooftop pool and fitness center, would have 184 apartments for low-income households. The property would be the first residential development in the U.S. with a built-in Costco. The rent that Costco Wholesale pays Thrive will help the developer rely less on government subsidies for the affordable housing, according to Thrive’s founder, Ben Shaoul. Big-box retailers are known primarily for their suburban locations, where the stores are the size of a couple of football fields and surrounded by hundreds of parking spaces. In recent years they have been pushing more into cities with smaller stores and new designs. 🔗 Read more from Rebecca Picciotto: https://lnkd.in/er8XiPjc