One thing that is very common to successful, vital urban neighborhoods is MIXED-USE. While some people take this to mean more than one use, such as stores, or offices, or apartments in an area, it more commonly refers to multiple uses in a single building. The oldest examples of this are buildings that have living units on the second floor over retail shops at the street level. Mixed Use is a successful model that is ancient, and one that we have (for several reasons) pretty much abandoned in this age. It is in fact, astonishingly, prohibited by many planning codes in our country.
Not only do buildings of Mixed Use provide a more interesting visual character to the public space of the street than do those with single use, they also makes the community space more vital, more alive, more interesting, and often……safer! Studies have shown that the greatest asset to public safety on the streets is other people. If there are living units above public streets, there are neighbors nearby. But if everyone is heading for the parking lot after shopping at the one story, single use mall, the public spaces quickly become deserted with no “eyes” to make them safer.
Fortunately, this concept has been rediscovered, and is being implemented in wiser cities. Next time you go shopping, to the doctor’s office, or to work, see how much single use or mixed use is a part of your experience.
Next, Fake Mixed Use!