ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY SITE DESIGN

BLOCK 4: “WORK. SHOP. EAT. LIVE.”

Figure 2.1

 

The intent of our project is to meet the following goals: increasing property value and rental rates, reducing running costs for home and business owners, reducing cost of maintenance for the city, increase in worker productivity, increase in a sense of identity leading to a revitalized community, and increase in retail activity and tourism, which we defined in our definition of economic sustainability; all while keeping in mind the other 6 welfare impacts that will have positive influences on a successful site.

Downtown Manhattan has a high demand for condo-style living, public and private green spaces, mixed use development and pedestrian connectivity.

• Providing condo-style living in Manhattan will allow the opportunity for an increase in rental rates.
• By designing specific green spaces on the site, creating green roofs, and using smart planting strategies, both maintenance and running costs will be reduced.
• As a part of our mixed-use development strategy, we plan to incorporate office space within our proposed buildings in addition to retail, dining and condominiums.
• Creating a safe pedestrian environment that is inviting by designing wide, welcoming sidewalks and engaging street-level storefronts will instill a sense of identity in those who visit the site.

Block 4 provides both public and private outdoor and recreational space, as well as on-site parking for the residents and visitors to retail and restaurant space. Block 4 optimizes economic sustainability by including four user groups on site: Office, Retail, Dining and Residential.

Figure 2.2

 

Analysis
The most important aspects of our site relating to Economic Sustainability are land value, building uses, and the timeline of development in Downtown Manhattan. The land value immediately surrounding our site ranges from $1,000,000 – $50,000,000, giving our site the potential to have top dollar rental rates and allowing a more expensive development to be built. The building uses surrounding our site are primarily shopping, business, or trade activity scattered with residential activity. On our site we are proposing a combination of shopping/trade, business, and residential with public open spaces that allow for public assembly. By providing trade activity uses within our proposed building, we are uniting the northern and southern ends of downtown. In our timeline of development, it is clear that Downtown Manhattan is being developed inconsistently. Our site will create a cohesive downtown with a retail core that will bring together the north, south, and Poyntz downtown areas.

 

Design
Our site can accommodate many activities. Outdoor amenities include open to the public: recreational lawn, movie screen, splash pad water feature, hardscape areas for outdoor dining, a variety of seating, on-site parking garage and wide shaded walkways leading to an array of retail and dining. Amenities for residents only: Outdoor pool, tanning deck, cookout space, shaded event area, workout facilities, on-site parking garage, green roof and balconies.

Figure 2.3

Figure 2.4

Figure 2.5

 

References
Armbrust, T. 2015, April 4. Manhattan Economic Development [Telephone interview].