By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities
Higher density / mixed used communities, pros & cons
A collection of articles and references citing pros and cons of increasing density and incorporating mixed land uses
Advantages promoted by the industry:
Walkable communities
Affordable lifestyles near urban amenities
Reduces sprawl and conserves land and environmental resources
Promotes social interaction
Challenges and disadvantages of mixed use:
Residential and commercial owners and residents often clash, because they hold opposing interests and goals
Residential owners may be expected to subsidize commercial costs by paying more than their fair share of assessments to the master property owners’ association
Retail and Restaurant commercial tenants earn limited profits, may struggle to survive with limited foot traffic and no viable strategy to draw in customers from outside the community
Close proximity of commercial uses may expose residents to disturbances such as noise, foul odors, bright lights, and similar quality of life nuisances
Challenges and disadvantaged of increased housing density:
Residents have little privacy, increased exposure to nuisances such as noise from neighboring housing units
Parking is extremely limited or, if available, very costly
Traffic increases in suburban zones, where public transit is unavailable
Working class and low income residents are often priced out of redeveloped dense housing neighborhoods
In urban settings, limited daylight exposure for residents in highrise buildings
High concentration of hard surfaces and shortage of green space makes it difficult to manage storm water and prevent flood hazards
Many communities not designed to accommodate families with children
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