Factors to be considered for selecting a site
As outlined in previous posts, the Urban Design Build Studio (UDBS) has been exploring the potential of three sites for RE_CON 01: 416 N Euclid Ave (East Liberty), 318 N St. Clair St (East Liberty), and 45 Carver (Larimer). We will have to decide with partners, which is the best site to work on first for the implementation of the housing prototype. As the semester has progressed, the UDBS AECM cohort has been asked to explore some of the parameters which could influence the selection of site. These include:
1. Market-rate/Affordability Indices - Implications of placing a market-rate vs affordable index house on each of the three sites were compared in the context of adjacent properties. What we have concluded is that if nearby properties are rental dominant, a market-rate house will increase rents, having a negative impact on mixed income/economically diverse potential. However, in a situation where adjacent properties are predominantly owned by local residents, that same house can help increase the adjacent home values and aid in wealth building.
2. Environmental Factors - We are also investigating environmental factors like solar access and passive ventilation. A well-ventilated house with proper solar orientation can help in reducing operational costs of the house prototype by reducing energy bills.
3. Replicability – One of the major goals of this studio, aligned with the UDBS mission statement, is to construct a prototype which can be replicated by entities having ability to operate at scale. Therefore, we have bee utilizing site dimension constraints and setback criteria that can be utilized universally across a broad array of sites within the neighborhoods.
These are only a few of the conditions being considered. Keep an eye out for future posts that will include others, plus posts that illustrate how these considerations have been put to use in design thinking and strategies.
