Enhance the Neighborhood

New developments and property rehabilitations should enhance their neighborhoods by acting as catalysts for positive change and growth. Developments that maintain high aesthetic standards, as well as promote safety and security in their design plans accomplish this goal of enhancement. By contributing to the visual social fabric of the neighborhood and by providing a more secure built environment, residents lives can be enhanced by the incorporation of good design.

Meet high aesthetic standards: Obviously, no standard definition of beauty exists, however  relevant factors exist that separate what is considered good design from the bad that do nothing to enhance their built environment. Complimenting the existing physical context in a culturally appropriate manner is crucial to a project’s success, as is soliciting community input to ensure development proceeds in a manner suitable to current residents.

Enhance safety and security: Housing can have a profound impact, if properly designed, in the realm of enhancing security. Through proper site layout, buiding orientation, and use of ownership oriented design principals, affordable housing developments can become more secure. Buildings constructed in the spirt of good design should enhance notions of safety.