Ken Ryan, principal of KTGY Architecture + Planning in Irvine, Calif., and head of the firm’s Community Planning and Urban Design Studio, thinks new community planning will focus on development that moves forward in smaller increments. “A continued push for a variety of housing product and affordability will also be present with smaller homes,” says Ryan. “Some of these will be allowed with traditional single-family detached neighborhoods, where jurisdictions are now adopting bylaws such as horizontal apartments.” Products such as this, he says, maintain a reasonable density but allow residents to live in a single-family detached configuration that is more compatible and acceptable in certain established neighborhoods.
Working Remotely Will Increase Although Powers doesn’t expect significant changes in community planning, he does foresee at least one permanent shift: more people will be working from home. “I don’t think we’re going to be fully remote once we get a chance to come back together, but I do think it’s going to be a bigger component of people’s lives,” he notes. This could mean an evolution in the work-at-home environment as well as community design, which might include more co-working spaces that are not necessarily a central office, he says. Ryan agrees: “Floor plans will need to accommodate flexible space for Zoom Rooms and a better working-at-home environment.”
Community as an Amenity In addition to finding safer ways to socialize and create a variety of spaces for working remotely, other factors, such as demographics, will also impact community planning going forward. But it isn’t just a matter of housing types and the amenity mix. “Understanding emerging and changing population factors — such as race, gender and age — will play an even stronger role in new community development,” says Ryan. “Successful communities that excel will not only provide specific services or uses or housing products that respond to a particular demographic, but those that connect to the human soul.” Over the next decade, Ryan expects community development to focus on urban infill, attainability, and healthy environments. Urban infill will be especially prominent because cities must find ways to provide more affordable housing. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) will also become more commonplace in single-family detached neighborhoods. Communities such as agrihoods that promote health and wellness will also be development drivers because they embrace outdoor activities, eating right and exercise — all of which have cross-generational appeal. “I believe home buyers are looking for ‘Community as Amenity’ — meaning that no matter how large or small and whether urban or suburban, every project needs to embrace strong fundamentals of great neighborhoods,” says Ryan. “This includes pedestrian orientation, attractive streets, meaningful open space, a variety of housing, a safe public realm, and design elements that connect to the human experience.”
September 2021
www.ncbia.com
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