Best Practices for Community-Centric Urban Development

We’ve been building Rancho Sahuarita for 25 years—and while it started as a development, it’s become something much deeper: a living, breathing example of how design fosters true community. Here are 3 things we’ve learned: 🔹 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 “𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲” (Borrowed from Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki🙂) At Rancho Sahuarita, the lake park came before the homes. The sidewalks were wide, the trails interconnected. When you give people places to 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, belonging happens faster. We designed for interaction from day one. 🔹 𝟮. 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲. It’s easy to build “amenities”—it’s harder to integrate them into real life. Our water park, fitness center, and splash pads aren’t afterthoughts—they’re woven into the rhythm of the neighborhood. That’s what makes people stay, and stay involved. 🔹 𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀. We didn’t design for demographics (despite great market studies done by RCLCO  all those years ago). We designed for 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴. Every playground, school route, and event was shaped by a question: “Would my own family thrive here?”  My dad asked that. And our team does the same. That's how our program for families with special needs was born, or why "Story Time for Tots" thrives. Our programming is a reflection of our team. Design can’t 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 community—but it can create the conditions where it grows naturally.

We love our neighborhoods, but the older we get the less likely we’ll be able to enjoy them . . . When it feels too complicated to get out and about, we may feel ‘stuck at home’ and become more sedentary and lonely . . . How might we retrofit built environments to accommodate aging populations?  We had a fascinating conversation at #CES2025 with Rodney Harrell, PhD, AARP and William Chernicoff, PhD Global Research and Innovation, Toyota North America on the call-to-action to develop comprehensive, inclusive, thoughtful urban design strategies that work for all ages: > Transform communities from ‘transit-centric’ to ‘human-centric’ > Connect discreet transit infrastructure components together and pay attention to the gaps and details e.g. train stations are not ‘usable’ if the stairs to get there are steep, rusty or not well-lit > Optimize more pathways for personal mobility and safety, e.g. dedicate lanes for micro-mobility, mini vehicles, tech-enabled wheelchairs and assistive devices, eScooters, etc. > Open up more green spaces to encourage people to gather together in nature, better for mental health and physical activity (on-demand autonomous vehicle networks free up paved parking lots) > Accommodate for intense Climate change: the ground is heating up and older adults are more affected by the heat so outdoor spaces, especially around retail and healthcare settings, need a ton more shade-covered walk paths, properly spaced seating for resting, etc. >>> and so so so much more . . . . Check out the AARP Livability Index (https://lnkd.in/eNQds9ki), type in your zip code to see how your community scores against 50 criteria (and then work with your elected officials and city planners to improve it!): Housing (affordability and access), Neighborhood (proximity and security), Transportation (safety and convenience), Environment (clean air and water), Health (prevention, access, and quality), Engagement (civic and social involvement), Opportunity (inclusion and possibilities) To experiment and model cities of the future, check out the NOGAS toolkit (https://nogas.mit.edu/), developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Norman B Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism and P-REXLab at MIT and Toyota Mobility Foundation which uses “unique scenario-based modeling workflow to generate optimized suburban land use patterns, mobility frameworks, and urban design for a future where autonomous vehicles are ubiquitous ” . . . It's inspiring and illuminating to see how decisions we make today will impact how we'll live 50 years from now . . . #agetech #agetechinnovation AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP

🏗️ Kite Realty Group + Notre Dame: A Model for University Joint Ventures How a REIT-led partnership helped revitalize a neighborhood and set the standard for mixed-use university developments. 🏙️📚 🧠 Vision: Transforming Blight into a Destination Back in 2005, Notre Dame set out to reconnect its campus with the surrounding South Bend community. The goal? ✅ Close divides—literal and social—between campus and neighborhood ✅ Invest in long-term community revitalization ✅ Partner with the private sector to create something enduring 🏘️ The Result: Eddy Street Commons A $315M+ mixed-use development that includes: 🏨 2 hotels 🏢 90K SF of retail + 80K SF of office 🏘️ 900+ apartments, condos, and townhomes 🚗 1,253-space parking garage 🥦 A Trader Joe’s, restaurants, Urban Outfitters, and more 📈 2024 visitors: 2.7M 💰 Annual economic impact: $1.3B (St. Joseph County) 🤝 Creative Partnership Structure * Long-term ground lease with revenue sharing tied to performance * $36M in TIF financing unlocked public-private momentum * Revenue-based lease ensured aligned interests between Kite & Notre Dame * South Bend & Notre Dame provided land, vision, and community support 🌍 Community-Centric Development Kite and Notre Dame prioritized inclusivity from Day 1: 🏘️ 63 affordable homes built through the Triangle project 🏢 New Robinson Community Learning Center built at no cost by Kite 🧑🎓 Serves ~2,000 underserved youth with classrooms, a makerspace, theater, kitchen & podcast studio 🐕 Pocket parks, dog parks, reasonable building heights to blend with existing neighborhoods 🔁 A Model Others Follow 🏛️ Universities nationwide are replicating this public-private structure 📜 Notre Dame’s long-term view (+200 years) helped build for the future 📐 Independent yet integrated with campus, Eddy Street Commons is a true “downtown” for all 🧩 Lessons for REITs & Developers: 📌 Be patient — trust and alignment take time 📌 Prioritize community voice and shared wins 📌 Design for long-term sustainability, not short-term optics 📌 Creative financing + flexibility = transformative outcomes 🏆 What Makes This Special? Kite Realty’s collaboration with Notre Dame, the city, and residents wasn’t just a development deal—it was a blueprint for how REITs can lead inclusive urban regeneration. https://lnkd.in/eBCaM9bm

🌱 Regenerative Sustainability, Community-Led Change & Accountability: A Stakeholder-Centered Approach for Project & Change Managers 🌱 How do we move beyond "sustainability" as a buzzword and toward regenerative, community-driven change? How do we ensure that communities most affected by systemic challenges are the ones leading the solutions? Our new training workshop explores three powerful frameworks that empower project and change managers to align stakeholder interests, build accountability, and drive lasting impact: Taiwo Abraham, PhD Candidate, PMP, CFA-ESG, GRI-CSP let’s flesh this out! ✅ Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD): Instead of focusing on what a community lacks, ABCD builds from existing strengths—local skills, cultural knowledge, networks, and resilience—to create sustainable, self-driven progress. ✅ Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR): Research shouldn’t just be about communities—it should be with and for them. CBPAR ensures that those most affected by a challenge co-create solutions, driving equitable, data-informed decision-making. ✅ Regenerative Sustainability: Beyond reducing harm, regenerative sustainability restores ecosystems, economies, and social structures. It helps communities escape ecological determinism & fatalism, reclaim agency, and thrive in a changing world. This training is designed to equip project and change managers with the tools to build sustainable, community-driven initiatives that truly work. Here’s what we cover: 📌 Stakeholder Accountability & Strategic Planning – Aligning ABCD & CBPAR with Gerald Gabris' strategic planning model for local governments. 📌 Applying Accountability Frameworks – Using Romzek & Dubnick's accountability matrix to balance legal, professional, bureaucratic, and political responsibilities in regenerative projects. 📌 Case Studies & Global Best Practices – Real-world applications, including: 🌍 Housing First: Using ABCD to empower formerly unhoused individuals to co-design housing solutions. 🌱 Camp Liberty: A CBPAR-driven initiative where veterans restore degraded landscapes while healing PTSD. 📌 Alignment with SDGs & GRI Standards – Making sustainability frameworks actionable, measurable, and relevant to real-world projects. 📌 Meta-Analysis of Emerging Research (2020-2024) – A deep dive into recent findings on regenerative change, stakeholder engagement, and community resilience. Why Does This Matter? Project and change managers are at the forefront of shaping how organizations engage with communities. Whether you're leading a nonprofit initiative, a corporate sustainability effort, or a government program, this training helps you cultivate accountability to stakeholder interests—not just to check a box, but to drive real, regenerative impact. If you're a leader committed to making sustainability truly sustainable, let’s connect. 💡 #RegenerativeSustainability #StakeholderEngagement #ChangeManagement #ProjectManagement #CommunityDevelopment

How do local governments take a neighborhoods centered approach to governing? Here are ten concrete ideas. 1.Make neighborhood flourishing the highest strategic priority, revising investment/operating decisions to reflect this 2.Measure and track trends in neighborhood health 3.Establish cross-functional teams to develop neighborhood plans and hold each silo accountable to them 4.Empower neighborhood associations & hyperlocal civic infrastructure and incorporate them in local consultations 5.Shift design emphasis of road arterials to neighborhood serving retail and complete streets; increase transit spending 6.Clarify neighborhood boundaries and ensure each has an abundance of third places; expand main street programs 7.Ensure each neighborhood has its own primary school 8.Boost ownership rates and reduce transiency rates 9.Beautify and celebrate the uniqueness of each place 10. Ensure each neighborhood has diverse housing types/prices What would you add? Good ideas welcome below. This is not meant to be exhaustive. Happy to explain anything that is unclear. #placemaking #neighborhoods #urban #community #socialprescribing Stanford Social Innovation Review Placemaking Education Cormac Russell Danya Pastuszek Sarah Strimmenos Dawn Martz Amanda Jamison Dan Baisden Shawn Duncan Adam Barlow-Thompson Sam Pressler David Burton Frances Kraft John B. Daron Babcock Ethan Kent Michael Skoler PlacemakingX Noah Baskett David Kaiser Pete Peterson Mary W. Rowe David Erickson Alan C. Aaron Kuecker Tim Soerens De'Amon Harges Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams Brigitte Blom Michael Matheson Miller Liz Joyner Dean Cracknell Dr J.R. Baker

The concept of the 15-Minute City was popularized by Carlos Moreno, a Colombian-French urban planner, researcher, and professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Moreno developed this framework to reimagine urban living, creating cities that are more livable, sustainable, and community-focused. The 15-Minute City emphasizes access to essential services—work, education, healthcare, groceries, and recreation—within a short walk or bike ride from home. It’s a response to challenges like urban sprawl, climate change, and the declining quality of life in car-dependent cities. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo brought this idea to international attention by integrating it into her urban policies, transforming Paris into a walkable, bike-friendly, and sustainable city. As Americans move back into urban centers, this concept feels more relevant than ever. Essential services shouldn’t require a 20-minute drive. Large retailers like Walmart, Kroger, and Target are already recognizing this shift, investing in smaller, neighborhood-focused stores that prioritize pedestrians over parking. Across the U.S., smaller towns are revitalizing their downtowns to encourage walkability, bikeability, social engagement, and economic development. Patio dining is on the rise, and once-empty storefronts are being reimagined as thriving local businesses. These efforts show that even smaller communities can embrace the principles of the 15-Minute City to create vibrant, connected places. In order to keep the momentum going - Municipal government needs to eliminate redundant, restrictive zoning. Follow the lead of cities like Birmingham and Cincinnati and remove parking minimums to allow a higher density of housing (if you can walk everywhere, you don't need a car!) If we follow the lead of cities like Lyon, France and prioritize pedestrians streets will become a more vibrant and social place to hang out (and spend money!) The images below show how the 15 minute city is shaping Paris & Rue de la République, the high street in Lyon which was closed to vehicular traffic to become a commercial shopping district. #urbanism #architecture #design

What if we designed cities for people, not just cars? Lancaster, CA, is proving it’s possible—in just 8 months, they transformed a five-lane road into The BLVD, a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined street that has become a model for urban revitalization. What did the transformation look like? Before: A five-lane thoroughfare dominated by cars, with vacant storefronts and limited community engagement. After: A pedestrian-friendly boulevard with a central "rambla" inspired by Barcelona, fostering a thriving downtown with increased foot traffic and economic growth. What’s great is that this wasn’t just an environmental benefit, it was also economic. The $11.5 million initial investment attracted $130 million in private investment and is estimated to generate $273 million in economic output within 4 years. By encouraging people to park once and explore on foot, the redesign has boosted community engagement and safety. Lancaster’s approach reflects the New Urbanism movement, prioritizing walkable, people-centered downtowns over suburban sprawl. Having lived in the Bay Area for nearly 10 years, there’s so much I love about the area — the public transit, the weather, and the people. But I see so much room for improvement. Lancaster’s development is a testament to the future of what cities can look like if we invest in sustainable urban design. I’m a huge fan of mixed-use developments to boost local economies (and imagine living above a local grocery store—no more lugging bags for blocks!). By making sure all stakeholders are involved in the planning, we can integrate green spaces and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to create welcoming and useable public areas. Lancaster’s transformation proves that cities CAN be people-first, green, and economically booming. What would you change about your city? Drop your thoughts below! #UrbanRevival #CityDesign #SustainableCities #Placemaking #WalkableCities #UrbanPlanning #SmartGrowth

Why Affordable Housing Should Come with a Job Ladder We talk a lot about affordable housing as if the story ends when someone gets the keys. It doesn’t. Housing stability is a starting point, not the finish line. If we truly want to change lives, we have to pair housing with the tools that help people climb the economic ladder. Because the rent might be affordable now, but what about the future? What happens when a tenant is ready to buy a home, start a business, or move into a higher-paying career? Too often, the opportunities aren’t built into the housing model. The Case for a Job Ladder Imagine if every affordable housing development came with: -Workforce training programs tied to local industries -Apprenticeships in trades, tech, healthcare, or green building -Local hiring mandates for the construction and ongoing operation of the property -Small business incubation for residents with entrepreneurial dreams These aren’t just “add-ons.” They’re multipliers. They turn housing into a launchpad, not just a landing pad. Why This Matters for Communities When residents grow their income and skills, they can move into market-rate housing, buy a home, or invest back into the neighborhood. That frees up affordable units for others who need them, reduces generational poverty, and keeps communities more economically diverse. This isn’t theoretical. Programs like this already exist in pockets, but they’re the exception, not the rule. The Call to Action Developers, cities, nonprofits, and funding agencies need to design for mobility, not just stability. Here in Raleigh, there are nonprofits already combining job placement and advancement with housing. We need to continue empowering them to grow these programs. That means building partnerships with workforce boards, community colleges, trade unions, and local businesses before the ribbon cutting. Because a building can change a skyline, but opportunity changes a life. #EmergingDeveloper #AffordableHousing #UrbanDesign #CommunityDesign #CommunityEngagement

🌱Lessons From Europe: Designing Spaces That Work for People After visiting 29 countries, I’ve realized something powerful: Europe doesn’t just build cities—it designs for life. From Barcelona’s bustling plazas to Amsterdam’s bike-friendly streets, these spaces invite connection, not just commerce. They prioritize walkability, public transit, and human-scale design. Here’s what we can learn: 🥐Multi-Use Spaces: In Paris, a bakery, bookstore, and residential units can share one block. Mixed-use developments create vibrancy and convenience. 🚶♀️Pedestrian First: Many European cities limit car access in central areas. The result? Safer streets, cleaner air, and more room for people. 🍒Community Focus: Local markets and small plazas act as gathering spaces, fostering connection over consumption. In the U.S., we’re often car-centric and overly transactional in our design. But what if we leaned into people-first placemaking? Imagine neighborhoods designed for strolling, lingering, and belonging—not just driving, parking, and leaving. Traveling has taught me that great spaces are about connection. The question is: How do we bring that mindset to our communities? What’s one design element you wish your city would adopt? #humancentricdesign #citiesforpeople