The panel discussion focused on village development trends, fiscal impacts, and case studies. Jon Reiner introduced concepts like historic villages, compact development, and transfer of development rights. Linda Painter discussed Storrs Center in Connecticut, a public-private partnership featuring retail, residential, and infrastructure development. Lori Massa and Wig Zamore presented on Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts, which generated tax revenue and diversified the tax base through mixed-use development. Peter Flinker analyzed village economics and how different development patterns affected costs, preserved land, and roads. The panel examined real market analyses and fiscal impacts to inform village planning decisions.
This presentation provides a history of tax incremental financing in Wisconsin, trends in its use, recent changes and best practices in using TIF for community development.
Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Delivery of ServicesVierbicher
This presentation served as the introduction to a 3 hour workshop on Intergovernmental Cooperation for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. Local leaders from around the state attended the workshop and learned about 4 key elements to successful intergovernmental cooperation: Leadership, Analysis, Negotiation and Implementation. Other presentations from this workshop may be found here: http://www.localgovinstitute.org/content/intergovernmental-cooperation-workshop
This presentation provides a history of tax incremental financing in Wisconsin, trends in its use, recent changes and best practices in using TIF for community development.
Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Delivery of ServicesVierbicher
This presentation served as the introduction to a 3 hour workshop on Intergovernmental Cooperation for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. Local leaders from around the state attended the workshop and learned about 4 key elements to successful intergovernmental cooperation: Leadership, Analysis, Negotiation and Implementation. Other presentations from this workshop may be found here: http://www.localgovinstitute.org/content/intergovernmental-cooperation-workshop
Using TIF to Promote Healthy CommunitiesVierbicher
This presentation provides a history of tax incremental financing in Wisconsin, trends in its use, recent changes and best practices in using TIF to promote development that can lead to healthier communities.
The New Urbanism: Design Principles for Vibrant CommunitiesVierbicher
Much of the development that has occurred in Wisconsin and around the nation over the past 60 years has created a feeling of sameness from community to community. Our development pattern has separated uses from one another and catered to cars at the expense of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit. The New Urbanism promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant mixed-use communities built with integrated housing, employment, shops, and schools. It is a revival of the lost art of "placemaking" to raise our quality of life and standard of living by creating neighborhoods, not just subdivisions, and building main streets, not just shopping malls.
Planning & Urban Design Principles for Non-PlannersVierbicher
Much of the development that has occurred in Wisconsin and around the nation over the past 60 years has created a feeling of sameness from community to community. Our development pattern has separated uses from one another and catered to cars at the expense of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit. The New Urbanism promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant mixed-use communities built with integrated housing, employment, shops, and schools. It is a revival of the lost art of "placemaking" to raise our quality of life and standard of living by creating neighborhoods, not just subdivisions, and building main streets, not just shopping malls.
The Real and the Imagined Socially Responsible Real Estate in China - Context...STL Lab
The term “socially responsible real estate” in China lacks a clear definition. Its discourse orients towards physical and technological solutions, as seen from the “socially responsible real estate enterprise index” propagated by the central government. The 2015 China socially responsible real estate index (SRR) lists the "top 100 socially responsible real estate enterprises," including corporations such as Greenland, Country Green, Vanke, China Overseas etc. However, the most well-known SRRs represents a clear mismatch with the general public’s perception of the real estate industry. The SRR index embraces comprehensively the physical and technical measurements, but is weak on the social and cultural aspects. While the social impact of such index system becomes questionable, it remains unclear how it can guide the practice of socially responsible real estate development. The talk will review 3 real estate development cases at three different scales of development, representing three typical developmental models:
1. Large scale: SuZhou-Singapore Industrial Park (1994~) 200 square km by Suzhou government development corporation
2. Medium scale: Liangzhu New Village, Hangzhou (2003~) 6.7 square km by Vanke corporation
3. Small scale: Xiangshan Nanchang downtown renewal (undergoing), 10 hectors by Greenland
By mapping the objectives of key players (governments and developers), this talk aims to identify the value orientation of socially responsible real estate development in different social, economic, and geographic contexts. The meaning of SRR should be further developed and its operationalization should be customized to fit different geographical areas, lands use, and physical historical contexts across China. Ultimately, Chen’s research argues that a community based social value (i.e. community fatality) should be centralized on the value map of the socially responsible real estate in China.
Spatial Justice and the Irish Crisis: Population and Settlement - Rob KitchinThe Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy Conference: Spatial Justice and the Irish Crisis
23 April, 2013, Academy House
The on-going crisis and associated responses to it (political, governance, popular etc.) provides an entry point for a wide-ranging exploration of spatial justice as a theoretical construct and a departure point for empirical analysis. Discourses of justice, equality and fairness remain central to a range of interconnected debates as Ireland seeks to recover from the interrelated collapses of the banking system and property markets and the knock on effects through the rest of society and the economy. Scale is an important dimension in framing and constructing popular discourses concerning issues of justice, e.g. the role of EU institutions in shaping Ireland’s treatment of banking debt or the impact of national budgetary measures on particular places. The focus of this conference is on understanding these spatially connected processes, how they are functioning at different scales, their impact on particular or specific places and spaces, as they give rise to new or evolving social and economic geographies.
Tax Increment Financing Presentation from Rochester, NH - the Granite Ridge Development District takes off with a development plan for 915 acres and 2 million square feet of development. Call now for space!
Using TIF to Promote Healthy CommunitiesVierbicher
This presentation provides a history of tax incremental financing in Wisconsin, trends in its use, recent changes and best practices in using TIF to promote development that can lead to healthier communities.
The New Urbanism: Design Principles for Vibrant CommunitiesVierbicher
Much of the development that has occurred in Wisconsin and around the nation over the past 60 years has created a feeling of sameness from community to community. Our development pattern has separated uses from one another and catered to cars at the expense of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit. The New Urbanism promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant mixed-use communities built with integrated housing, employment, shops, and schools. It is a revival of the lost art of "placemaking" to raise our quality of life and standard of living by creating neighborhoods, not just subdivisions, and building main streets, not just shopping malls.
Planning & Urban Design Principles for Non-PlannersVierbicher
Much of the development that has occurred in Wisconsin and around the nation over the past 60 years has created a feeling of sameness from community to community. Our development pattern has separated uses from one another and catered to cars at the expense of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit. The New Urbanism promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant mixed-use communities built with integrated housing, employment, shops, and schools. It is a revival of the lost art of "placemaking" to raise our quality of life and standard of living by creating neighborhoods, not just subdivisions, and building main streets, not just shopping malls.
The Real and the Imagined Socially Responsible Real Estate in China - Context...STL Lab
The term “socially responsible real estate” in China lacks a clear definition. Its discourse orients towards physical and technological solutions, as seen from the “socially responsible real estate enterprise index” propagated by the central government. The 2015 China socially responsible real estate index (SRR) lists the "top 100 socially responsible real estate enterprises," including corporations such as Greenland, Country Green, Vanke, China Overseas etc. However, the most well-known SRRs represents a clear mismatch with the general public’s perception of the real estate industry. The SRR index embraces comprehensively the physical and technical measurements, but is weak on the social and cultural aspects. While the social impact of such index system becomes questionable, it remains unclear how it can guide the practice of socially responsible real estate development. The talk will review 3 real estate development cases at three different scales of development, representing three typical developmental models:
1. Large scale: SuZhou-Singapore Industrial Park (1994~) 200 square km by Suzhou government development corporation
2. Medium scale: Liangzhu New Village, Hangzhou (2003~) 6.7 square km by Vanke corporation
3. Small scale: Xiangshan Nanchang downtown renewal (undergoing), 10 hectors by Greenland
By mapping the objectives of key players (governments and developers), this talk aims to identify the value orientation of socially responsible real estate development in different social, economic, and geographic contexts. The meaning of SRR should be further developed and its operationalization should be customized to fit different geographical areas, lands use, and physical historical contexts across China. Ultimately, Chen’s research argues that a community based social value (i.e. community fatality) should be centralized on the value map of the socially responsible real estate in China.
Spatial Justice and the Irish Crisis: Population and Settlement - Rob KitchinThe Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy Conference: Spatial Justice and the Irish Crisis
23 April, 2013, Academy House
The on-going crisis and associated responses to it (political, governance, popular etc.) provides an entry point for a wide-ranging exploration of spatial justice as a theoretical construct and a departure point for empirical analysis. Discourses of justice, equality and fairness remain central to a range of interconnected debates as Ireland seeks to recover from the interrelated collapses of the banking system and property markets and the knock on effects through the rest of society and the economy. Scale is an important dimension in framing and constructing popular discourses concerning issues of justice, e.g. the role of EU institutions in shaping Ireland’s treatment of banking debt or the impact of national budgetary measures on particular places. The focus of this conference is on understanding these spatially connected processes, how they are functioning at different scales, their impact on particular or specific places and spaces, as they give rise to new or evolving social and economic geographies.
Tax Increment Financing Presentation from Rochester, NH - the Granite Ridge Development District takes off with a development plan for 915 acres and 2 million square feet of development. Call now for space!
Rochester NH plans to utilize RSA 162:K to finance public infrastructure as a catalyst to development. 2 million square feet of retail, hospitality and commercial development is at stake.
How to successfully utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) on downtown and infill real estate development projects. Presentation made by Ben Zellers to the American Planning Association Wisconsin conference in June 2014.
The updated document used for the second Stormwater Information Session held Weds, March 11 at the Franklin TV studio. Some slides were added and or revised to better tell the story based upon feedback from the first session.
Brownfields Tour: A Visit to Hazelwood Green & RIDC Mill 19RPO America
Hazelwood Green is located on 178 acres along the Monongahela River, part of Pittsburgh’s Greater Hazelwood
neighborhood and the historic site of Jones & Laughlin Steel Company’s first industrial plant. RIDC Mill 19 is the first
development on the Hazelwood Green site and is now home to advanced manufacturing and autonomous innovation
partners including Carnegie Mellon University's Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing and Manufacturing Futures
Initiative, Catalyst Connection, and Motional. Pre-registration required. Visit the Conference Registration Desk to learn
if there are available seats on the tour.
Tax-Increment Financing - How to Effectively Use it in Your Community - GSMSu...GrowSmart Maine
Why plan for growth and change, when it seems so much easier to simply react?
When there is a distinct and shared vision for your community - when residents, businesses and local government anticipate a sustainable town with cohesive and thriving neighborhoods - you have the power to conserve your beautiful natural spaces, enhance your existing downtown or Main Street, enable rural areas to be productive and prosperous, and save money through efficient use of existing infrastructure.
This is the dollars and sense of smart growth.
Success is clearly visible in Maine, from the creation of a community-built senior housing complex and health center in Fort Fairfield to conservation easements creating Forever Farms to Rockland's revitalized downtown. Communities have options. We have the power to manage our own responses to growth and change.
After all, “Planning is a process of choosing among those many options. If we do not choose to plan, then we choose to have others plan for us.” - Richard I. Winwood
And in the end, this means that our children and their children will choose to make Maine home and our economy will provide the opportunities to do so.
The Summit offers you a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the transformative change in Maine that we’ve seen these gatherings produce. We encourage you to consider the value of being actively involved in growing Maine’s economy and protecting the reasons we choose to live here.
Christopher Lopez, Hemet City Manager presentation to Seven Hills. Update to community. Community Engagement and collaboration. This update reflects latest action items related to the Strategic Plan and various goals.
Guests included staff, elected officials. The update includes economic development, growth, budget, public safety, and other relevant updates.
The City launched a new website and new mechanisms to increase transparency and togetherness with the community.
There are updates related to Measure U, the City's 1% sales tax measure.
A Framework for Infrastructure Investment in the 21st Century - MI Infrastruc...OHM Advisors
On June 4, 2015, Greg Kacvinsky, principal at OHM Advisors, presented at the Michigan Infrastructure Conference. This presentation focused on the changing landscape for infrastructure funding.
Over the last 30 years, communities have witnessed a divergence in the need for infrastructure management and available revenues. An alarming percentage of our infrastructure is reaching the end of its useful life.
Downward pressure on tax revenues, combined with utility revenues that do not keep up with inflation, have resulted in the continued degradation of public safety and environmental health.
0x01 - Newton's Third Law: Static vs. Dynamic AbusersOWASP Beja
f you offer a service on the web, odds are that someone will abuse it. Be it an API, a SaaS, a PaaS, or even a static website, someone somewhere will try to figure out a way to use it to their own needs. In this talk we'll compare measures that are effective against static attackers and how to battle a dynamic attacker who adapts to your counter-measures.
About the Speaker
===============
Diogo Sousa, Engineering Manager @ Canonical
An opinionated individual with an interest in cryptography and its intersection with secure software development.
Sharpen existing tools or get a new toolbox? Contemporary cluster initiatives...Orkestra
UIIN Conference, Madrid, 27-29 May 2024
James Wilson, Orkestra and Deusto Business School
Emily Wise, Lund University
Madeline Smith, The Glasgow School of Art
This presentation by Morris Kleiner (University of Minnesota), was made during the discussion “Competition and Regulation in Professions and Occupations” held at the Working Party No. 2 on Competition and Regulation on 10 June 2024. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found out at oe.cd/crps.
This presentation was uploaded with the author’s consent.
Have you ever wondered how search works while visiting an e-commerce site, internal website, or searching through other types of online resources? Look no further than this informative session on the ways that taxonomies help end-users navigate the internet! Hear from taxonomists and other information professionals who have first-hand experience creating and working with taxonomies that aid in navigation, search, and discovery across a range of disciplines.
Acorn Recovery: Restore IT infra within minutesIP ServerOne
Introducing Acorn Recovery as a Service, a simple, fast, and secure managed disaster recovery (DRaaS) by IP ServerOne. A DR solution that helps restore your IT infra within minutes.
1. Village Development:
Market Trends and Fiscal Impact
Friday, September 25 11:15am-12:30pmᵒ
Panelists: Moderator:
Jon Reiner Jeff Davis
Linda Painter
Lori Massa
Wig Zamore
Peter Flinker
4. TDR
The Concept
sending area
Owner of “sending” parcel
sells development rights in
exchange for permanent
conservation easement.
Owner of “receiving”
parcel buys
development rights to
build at densities higher
than allowed under
base zoning.
receiving area
5. Where can this
happen today?
• Sending Area:
Sending Area
Overlay District
• Receiving Area:
Post Road District
Wickford Junction
Compact Village
District
8. • What this will do for us?
• Give us direction for solutions and an awareness of the
market
• What is the market reality and need for:
– Retail
– Office
– Housing
– Hospitality
– Infrastructure
– Smart growth vs. conventional development
“Add on” projects:
• Pro forma analysis;
• TDR Value analysis.
Market analysis
23. Project Planning
o Mansfield Downtown Action Agenda 2000 – identified vision
and evaluated market potential for creation of a new
downtown
o 2002 Master Plan included target market strategies
o 2005 Municipal Development Plan based on 2003 market
study
o 2007 – Adoption of Special Design District
24. Evolution of a Partnership
o Public Private
Partnership (P3) – Town,
University, Private Sector
Mansfield
Downtown
Partnership
established in 2002
Partnership officially
designated as
Town’s municipal
development agent
Master Developer
(Leyland Alliance)
selected in 2004
EDR added to
development team
in 2008
25. Formalizing the Partnership
o Fiscal Impact Analysis (2008)
Impact Analysis commissioned by Master Developer
Town retained its own consultant to review the analysis
and recommend refinements
Study estimated annual net revenue of $2.6M at build-out
26. Formalizing the Partnership
o Development Agreements (2011)
Master Developer and Mansfield Downtown
Partnership
Master Developer and Town of Mansfield
Master Developer and UConn (land acquisition;
water and sewer service)
27. Project Financing
o Approximately $200
Million of Private
Investment
o Infrastructure
improvements funded
by over $25 Million in
State and Federal
Grants
o Town projects financed
completely through
grants and fundraising;
no bonds or debt issued
28. Incentives
o Developer
7-Year Tax
Abatement for Phases
1A and 1B
Reduced Permit Fees
Town responsible for
construction of public
improvements
(garage, streets, town
square)
Receives excess
parking garage
revenues (after
contributions to Town
repair reserve fund)
o Town
Town owns parking
garage; Developer
operates until 2030
Developer responsible
for environmental
remediation
Approximately 25
acres preserved as
open space
Tenant Relocation
Program – No
eminent domain;
jointly funded by
developer and Town
39. Public / Private Partnership
•State’s Infrastructure Investment Initiative
(I-Cubed) Bond Program
$50 million
•Federal Stimulus American Recovery &
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant for roadway
construction and off-site improvements
$15 million
•State’s Growth District Initiative (GDI)
Grant to construct sub-surface infrastructure
$2 million
•District Improvement Financing
$25 million
40. MTBA Orange Line Station in Assembly Square
– opened Sept 2014
$52 million is required to build the station including two head
houses.
• Federal Transportation Earmark $1 million
• State (MPO) $12 million
• State (Other Grant Sources) $18 million
• Private Contribution $15 million
• Congressional Multi-modal Earmark $6.26 million
Public / Private Partnership
42. FY 15, 60% of new commercial &
industrial growth was in Blocks
1, 3 & 4
Tax increase
avoided:
Avg condo -$38
Avg 1-family -$53
Avg 2-family - $60
Avg 3-family -$69
Avg 4-8-family -$89
43. Burden of property tax levy
Commercial 15% of total value
– City shifts additional 175%
% not changing greatly yet - residential values increasing
2012-2015
71-73%
27-29%
CLASS
Residential
Commercial
City-wide growth
projections by 2025
65%
35%
CLASS
Residential
Commercial
RATES
$12.70
$20.52
44. Permit Fees (core & shell)
Block 1 $578,000
Block 2 $87,400
Block 3 $740,000
Block 4 $587,500
Block 6 $2 M
Block 10 $11,500
Block 11 $4.2 M
Total $8.2M
$19 per $1,000
& plan review
$4 per $1,000
46. Historic RI Villages grew organically to serve an
economic purpose within a particular landscape
context
Agricultural Village: Little Compton Mill Village: Peacedale Harbor Village: Wickford
53. Analyzing Village
Economics
Market Analysis:
•What uses are needed in the community?
•What will be successful in the real estate market?
Fiscal Impact Analysis:
•What is the projected tax revenue?
•What are the costs of local services?
56. Analyzed demographic and income profiles for
populations living within 5, 10 and 15 minute drives
57. Fiscal Impact Analysis Process:
1. Estimate the Basis of Future Demand
(how much and what kind of development)
2. Estimate Revenue
(property taxes, excise taxes, fees, etc.)
3. Estimate Costs
(education, roads, sewer & water, public safety, etc.)
4. Compare Costs to Revenue
58. Cost of Community Services Studies
American Farmland Trust, 1980s - Present
Results:
• Residential development requires $1.15 in
services for every $1 it pays in taxes.
• Open Space uses require only $0.35 in
services for every $1 of tax revenue.
59. A.
Conventional
Development
89 516 Acres None 15,250 feet 171 feet None
B.
Conservation
Development
89 75 Acres 441 Acres
(184 ag. land)
11,050 feet 124 feet None
C.
Village with ½
Acre Lots
89 65 Acres 451
(184 ag. land)
7,100 feet 80 feet None
D.
Village with ¼
Acre Lots
178 65 Acres 451
(184 ag. land)
9,700 feet 55 feet 356 Acres
E.
Village with
1/8 Acre Lots.
356 65 Acres 451
(184 ag. land)
9,700 feet 27 feet 1068 Acres
Option
Number of
New Homes
Total Area
Developed
Total Area
Preserved
Length of
New Roads
New Road
Per Unit
Additional Land
Preserved
through TDR
Using Fiscal Impact Analysis to Inform Decision Making
67. “Considering both housing and
transportation costs, WalkUPs
and Walkable Neighborhoods
are more affordable than their
drivable sub-urban
counterparts.”
Percentage of income spent on
housing & transportation:
•Drivable Subdivision: 48%
•Edge City: 45%
•Walkable Neighborhood: 43%
•WalkUP: 42%
68. Questions?
Jonathan J. Reiner, AICP
Director
Planning and Development
Services
Groton, Ct
jreiner@groton-ct.gov
Linda M. Painter, AICP
Director of Planning and
Development
Town of Mansfield
860-429-3329
painterlm@mansfieldct.org
Lori Massa, AICP
Senior Planner
City of Somerville, MA
617-625-6600 x2500
LMassa@somervillema.gov
Peter Flinker, AICP
Partner
Dodson & Flinker, Inc.
413-628-4496
peter@dodsonflinker.com
Throughout the planning process, market research and realities were taken into account
1960s-UConn identified need for commercial center
1993-Concept for Mixed-Use center identified in Mansfield POCD
1995-UConn 2000 initiative ($--B investment into Uconn facilities)
Character and sustainability also primary drivers-2003 visual preference survey; detailed design guidelines, sustainability guideline
Throughout the planning process, market research and realities were taken into account
1960s-UConn identified need for commercial center
1993-Concept for Mixed-Use center identified in Mansfield POCD
1995-UConn 2000 initiative ($--B investment into Uconn facilities)
Fiscal impact study evaluated both marginal and average cost impacts
Throughout the planning process, market research and realities were taken into account
1960s-UConn identified need for commercial center
1993-Concept for Mixed-Use center identified in Mansfield POCD
1995-UConn 2000 initiative ($--B investment into Uconn facilities)
New 670 space parking garage – owned by Town, managed by Storrs Center Alliance
Improvements to Storrs Road (Route 195) – including addition of on-street parking, medians to slow traffic, and addition of wide sidewalks
Realignment of Dog Lane intersection with Storrs Road
Construction of new streets
Construction of Town Square (over $1M obtained through fundraising efforts)
New 670 space parking garage – owned by Town, managed by Storrs Center Alliance
Improvements to Storrs Road (Route 195) – including addition of on-street parking, medians to slow traffic, and addition of wide sidewalks
Realignment of Dog Lane intersection with Storrs Road
Construction of new streets
Construction of Town Square (over $1M obtained through fundraising efforts)
Developer awarded excess revenues from parking garage after Town receives designated reserve funds for garage repair and replacement
Reducing reliance on intergovernmental revenues
State revenues, including PILOT funds, have been stagnant or declining despite significant investment at Uconn
PILOT funds accounted for 20.4% of General Fund Revenue as compared to 14.9% in FY16
Governor’s FY16 budget: state aid decreased by over $800,000 for FY16
Impacts of 2015 Revaluation
Total Grand List decreased by 0.85%
Real Estate decreased by 2.5%
Residential values declined 8.7%
Commercial values increased 22.3%
Former Ford Motor Assembly Plant
Key area to transform to meet Comp Plan development goals and demand for housing and desire for jobs and commercial tax base – conserve existing neighborhoods. 30,000 new jobs, 6,000 housing units, 125 acres of open space, 50% new trips by bike, walk, transit.
It expects to generate an estimated 9,700 permanent jobs, 10,300 construction jobs, while retaining 590 existing permanent jobs.
Orange Line Station
56.2 acres mixed use, transit oriented neighborhood. 5.7 million square feet of total development
2.8 million square feet of commercial space (including but not limited to office, research and development, laboratory, medical office, manufacturing, etc.),
637,000 square feet of retail space including restaurants, cinema and health club,
1,840 residential units,
up to a 170-room hotel,
the existing Assembly Square Marketplace and approximately 10,066 parking spaces.
2008 recession – public private partnership to ensure the project’s success.
All told, Assembly Row is projected to cost an estimated $1.36 billion. Of this, $73 million in public funds were identified and awarded in 2008 and 2009 from state and federal sources: *Does not include public funds allocated for new MBTA Orange Line
In a Tri-Party Agreement executed in March 2011, the State agreed to fill the remaining $18 million gap for the train station if the City would make a $25 million contribution toward the funding of public infrastructure in Assembly Square.
By adopting a DIF boundary and a financing plan, the City showed its commitment to reinvest a portion (11.9%) of the ultimate growth potential in property tax back into the district to facilitate the start of construction of Blocks 1, 3, and 4 per the revised Preliminary Master Plan.
In the autumn 2010 it was clear that Congress was not set to appropriate the balance of the promised $25million earmark designated toward the construction of the station.
Curtatone requested MassDOT federal earmark be applied to the station. On February 17, 2011, the MPO voted to program an additional $12 million in federal highway funds (for the second head house) and $6.2 million in multi-modal funds for the construction of the T- Station.
FY 2011 base year – total taxes generated $204,532
1.3 million sf
Retail 294,000 sf
Residential units 448
Parking spaces 1443
Usable open space 17,899 sf
new growth valued at $243 million
$64.3 million new commercial & industrial
Of which $38.6 (60%) is in Assembly Row
Rhode Island’s original settlements were all created for a purpose. They started because of a particular resource - farmland, crossroads, harbor, water power – and grew organically as social and economic activity expanded. Most of us no longer make our living from the land, but we can continue to live in a place that has a functional relationship to its context, whether that’s for provision of local food and water, recreation, or economic and social connections to the surrounding neighborhood. Examples:
When villages ceased to have a direct functional connection to their context, the form changed or was subsumed in a new form answering a very different economic need.
The 20th century gave us the automobile, the interstate and the suburbs, and spurred fundamental social and economic change. As with historical villages, suburban development patterns are the result of the underlying economic forces at work.
Designers can talk about the beauty and utility of villages, but how do we know whether a village is likely to be successful within the real estate marketplace? How do we know if it’s the best economic choice for the community? What’s the bottom line?
Villages are clearly a more environmentally and socially sustainable model than the suburban sprawl alternative, but that’s not what sways local policy makers to change zoning to make villages possible. What are the different kinds of analyses that planners are using to test whether villages make good economic sense? What tools are available to help promote villages as economic engines?
Exploration of many alternative village growth scenarios helped residents understand their choices.
A fiscal impact analysis determined that the cost of new residential development was greater than tax revenue in conventional development, but the village provided a net increase in revenue – largely because there are fewer school children in typical village areas compared to traditional subdivisions.
Villages were the basic building block of Rhode Island’s settlement, with between 175 and 200 distinct centers by the end of the 19th century.
(Connecticut 169 municipalities hosted some 643 “villages.”)
The agricultural village changed little from medieval times; the basic structure was the result of an equation that balanced the population with the land needed to support them, with a mix of uses to serve their other needs.
Villages grew organically in relation to the surrounding land, and the result was efficient and beautiful.. Arguably the premium we pay to live in (or even visit) a historic village like nantucket or wickford is due in part to the aesthetic quality rooted in this perfect marriage of form and function.