Ben Brown

Urbanism can reinvent economy

Former old media staffer (USA TODAY, Time Inc) now bridging gaps for clients, colleagues in new economy/new media., Oct 25, 11.

Tagged with economy, new urbanism

Now the money questions are coming from the new power brokers in planning, economic development specialists in local and regional governments. This stuff you’re drawing looks pretty, say these guys, but what does it have to do with job creation? And now that we can’t stick developers with the bills for infrastructure, where’s the money going to come from?

There’s a way to turn the show-me-the-money question back on economic developers. I’ll make that case below. But first, here’s how Council participants came at the money question at both the macro and micro scales. Texas planner Scott Polikov presented the most aggressive big picture proposition: Leverage a form-based code as the equivalent of a master developer, a guarantor of long-term predictability in an unpredictable economic environment.

Showing an example of a Texas project with powerful transit-oriented-development opportunities, Polikov worked through a pitch to investors — including off-shore funds — emphasizing the potential for long-term returns on mixed-use development guided by the form-based code.

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Coming from the other direction, that of conventionally financed development on individual parcels, is John Anderson. The Chico, California-based designer/builder has been bugging designers to master the bottom-line vocabulary for years. Now it appears his time has come.

Anderson argues that, as dire as the market appears, we’re not at the end of all housing construction for all time. Single-family and multifamily residences will get built. But the realities of the new era in finance and community affordability argues for smaller, smarter designs that pencil out on profit and loss statements local bankers and accountants can understand. Anderson calls it planning for ROBD (Return on Brain Damage).

NOTE: We suggest watching the videos embedded in the original post, linked below

Full Story: ‘Show Me the Money!’ New bumper sticker for the New Normal?
Source: PlaceShakers and NewsMakers Blog, October 21, 2011

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