Cities are a reflection of the people who live in them. That reality empowers residents, business owners and city leaders to shape the future of their urban centers to meet their needs, hopes and dreams.
We help stakeholders identify their vision and understand the questions to ask. Who will be in the city tomorrow? Whom do you want to attract? A city that appeals to young professionals will be inherently different from one that caters to retirees. How do you want residents, visitors and commercial traffic to get to and around the city? A multimodal approach to transportation is best, but how do you leverage the city’s geography to identify the best routes and encourage their use? What will people do once they’re in the city for entertainment, shopping, dining, recreation and work? How do you make all of that accessible and attractive? And perhaps most important, where will people live? Are there enough appealing homes in or within a reasonable distance of the urban center to meet the demand?
Our guidance helps stakeholders find the answers best suited to their city within the context of environmental sensitivity, social equity and economic viability, principles that are inherently tied together. Well-located green spaces beautify the area, opening the door to recreation, foot traffic and commerce while performing key environmental duties like stormwater retention and heat reduction. Walkable zones promote interaction with nearby businesses and alleviate automotive traffic, thus reducing the city’s carbon footprint and transportation-related costs for residents. Entertainment hubs promote human interaction, offer public-private revenue gathering opportunities through concessions and parking, provide a draw for nearby businesses, and offer unique modeling and educational opportunities for environmental best practices.
Cities and urban centers that amaze and inspire are rooted in an understanding of their character and possibilities, careful and well-informed planning, and the will of everyone involved to see the vision through to reality.