BergerWorld: 3rd Quarter 2006

New urbanism is an increasingly popular response to unplanned sprawl, based on the belief that a return to traditional neighborhood patterns is essential to restoring functional, sustainable communities. Currently, there are over 4,000 new urbanist projects planned or under construction in the United States.

New urbanism is most apparent in the encouragement of self-governing neighborhoods which control maintenance, security, construction and landscaping. The towns typically include a distinguishable center, such as a square or street corner; homes and stores placed close to the street with garages and parking lots behind; homes available for people of varying income levels, such as apartments, townhouses and single-family homes, most of which are within a five-minute walk of the town center; a variety of shops and offices at the edge of the neighborhood; an elementary school and a playground close enough so most children can walk; and a network of narrow streets lined with trees which provide various routes to any destination, decreasing traffic congestion.

New urbanism is beginning to have widespread impact on conventional development. Mainstream developers are adopting new urbanist design elements such as garages in the rear of homes, neighborhood greens and mixed-use town centers.

The Berger Group is currently involved in a variety of projects that are incorporating the ideals of new urbanism.

Aldea de Santa Fe is located in the foothills of the enchanting Sangre de Cristo Mountains, four miles west of New Mexico's capital, Santa Fe. Although Santa Fe is not presently overcrowded, county officials have planned ahead to create residential centers outside the central core to reduce future traffic congestion and properly accommodate the city's anticipated growth.

Spanish for "small village," Aldea successfully combines a mix of land uses into one centralized community district, where people can live, work, shop, socialize and play. The design, drawing on traditional Spanish Colonial towns, incorporates pedestrian walkways, open spaces, shared access, minimal street and traffic intrusion and lovely vistas.

Aldea consists of 476 residential parcels, including town homes, patio homes, single-family residences and lower-income housing. Aldea also includes a commercial and retail plaza area as well as a community center and public school.

The Berger Group was selected to design and manage the construction of the site, including five miles of roadway and over 30 intersections. In addition to the engineering and design plans, Berger prepared specialized reports addressing traffic impacts, water distribution needs, a hydrologic assessment and flood plain delineation plans. The reports provided necessary documentation and justification for 19 engineering variances to the Santa Fe County Subdivision Code to construct Aldea de Santa Fe as envisioned by the innovative town planners, developers and designers of the project. The variances, following new urbanism guidelines, involved roadway lane width modification, curb-return geometry, design speeds, parking-lane widths, building setbacks and heights, grading and utility corridors.

The Team was also instrumental in coordinating meetings between the Aldea de Santa Fe owners, the development manager, architects, utility providers and government officials to work out the details and address the concerns of the utility companies, as well as local and state government regulators. Berger also represented the project owners in various meetings and public hearings and coordinated other technical service providers, such as surveyors, archaeologists, geotechnical engineers and wastewater specialists.

Historical Kansas City, Missouri, (population 441,545) is often referred to as "The Heart of America." In an effort to embrace the Missouri River as a true landmark and to create an urban village of dense, mixed-use development, Kansas City is revitalizing its riverfront area.

Development of this prime 55-acre riverfront site will encompass office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, hotels and mid-rise housing. The housing component is designed to accommodate 700 apartments from studio to three-bedroom units. The integration of office and residential usage is further strengthened by developing new live/work models within the residential units themselves. Apartments will incorporate state-of-the-art technological systems and access to common work/conference support facilities within each building, including computers and internet connections. Area buildings, and the spaces between them, are configured to capitalize on attractive river views and common recreation areas.

North Kansas City was an aging suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, with a declining stock of housing and industrial and commercial buildings when it became the center for riverboat casinos in 1996. Immediately after, the town began to flourish with the arrival of over 1,000 new companies to the area. And while the city is home to a population of a mere 4,714 people, its working population is about five times greater. To both accommodate the growth and accelerate renewal of the city, the government undertook an ambitious redevelopment program, including the 56-acre Northgate Village.

The development included a mixed-residential community with single-family homes, townhouses and apartments, senior housing and new commercial facilities. BDY provided master planning services, drawing on new urbanism concepts and creating a themed neighborhood within the urban context. Design of the buildings took architectural cues from the existing character of North Kansas City. Both housing and commercial buildings maintain a low, human scale with front porches, off-street parking and rear-entrance vehicular access featured throughout. Amenities include extensive streetscaping, as well as landscaping featuring walking trails throughout the development.

BDY is assisting RED Development to plan the Olathe Zone in Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. With a population of 111,334, the city of Olathe is not only one of the fastest growing cities in the state, it's one of the fastest growing in the nation. BDY is planning an $800 million, 2,000-acre development that will include a major retail center and amusement park at its hub, supported by a motor sports club, an extreme games camp and condominium apartments. The southern end of the development is anchored by resort hotels, a water park and a golf course/residential club.

In Essex County, New Jersey, the city of Montclair recently initiated an ambitious downtown redevelopment study to stimulate private investment, increase the city's parking capacity and add affordable housing for its 38,977 residents. Berger began the assignment by conducting interviews with important stakeholders such as the Parking Authority Executive Director, the County Transportation Engineer, the

Chief of Police, the School Board, and select realtors and private developers. The Team then held meetings with a steering committee and property and business owners to identify the opportunities, assets, challenges, history and preferences of the community and review key recommendations as the project advanced.

Upon completion of the information gathering phase and analysis of the findings, the Team formulated alternate strategies for assisting both existing and new retail businesses to capture untapped demand. Berger recommended revised zoning districts, design guidelines, streetscape improvements, suggestions for urban infill buildings and supporting policy incentives (e.g., tax abatements, zoning relief, grants and loans). These strategies promoted pedestrian-oriented activity, shared parking facilities and dense, mixed-use development.

One of the goals of the redevelopment plan was to increase the availability of affordable housing within walking distance of rail transit facilities, and the Team met with current and potential landowners to explore incorporating affordable housing in subject sites. The study also evaluated the market and financial feasibility of a hybrid parking structure to facilitate a higher density, mixed-use district with retail, housing, arts and entertainment.

The city of Durham, North Carolina, (population 246,924) has embarked on an ambitious plan to encourage increased pedestrian use throughout the city. Prepared by Berger, the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan involved a detailed public survey to solicit information on current pedestrian characteristics, neighborhood walkway conditions and suggestions for improvements. The physical inventory created a reliable database of the location and condition of Durham's existing pedestrian network. The inventory included sidewalks, curb and wheelchair ramps, obstructions, trails, etc., and incorporated photographs of every intersection. Sourcebooks, including maps of the existing network, accident history and deficiencies in the existing pedestrian network, were also prepared.

The Team then evaluated and prioritized proposed improvements, reviewed these with public and private stakeholders and prepared recommendations for the citywide program. To aid the city and communities in the decision-making process, the Team also created a website and public school photo contest which greatly enhanced the public outreach effort. The city's existing policies, codes and design standards were also analyzed and recommendations prepared to ensure that they promote practices to improve walking conditions throughout the city.

Offering safe, attractive and efficient non-motorized routes for persons traveling short distances is an important contribution to a community's quality of life. Businesses benefit from increased customer circulation and a more attractive street environment for storefronts; children and parents benefit from having attractive choices for getting to school; and elderly and disabled residents benefit from the comfort of a safer pedestrian environment. The final plan included detailed policy recommendations, designs and cost estimates for physical improvements of the pedestrian infrastructure, potential funding sources and a detailed implementation plan.

Experiencing rapid growth, Orange County, North Carolina, faces many land-use challenges, and Berger and the UNC-Charlotte Urban Institute are developing an innovative strategy incorporating a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program to foster new urbanism concepts while conserving agricultural and open spaces. The TDR program will designate certain developed areas for increased density while protecting high-value natural areas as sending zones. Rural landowners sell their development rights while maintaining ownership and use of the land. The purchaser uses them to obtain a higher density than allowed in urban and suburban areas under the current zoning restrictions.

Also in North Carolina, Berger was selected to prepare a comprehensive pedestrian plan for the city of Cary. Berger is reviewing present land-use policies, conducting a public outreach program and preparing a master plan to prioritize a list of cost-effective pedestrian-friendly projects. A stakeholder committee has been formed to help guide the development of the plan. Berger has already produced sophisticated graphical representations of key corridors and recommendations for improvements to safety and accessibility for pedestrians.

More than 100 years ago, Thea Foss Waterway served as a thriving economic hub for Tacoma, Washington, where sawmills, marine activities and the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad were located. Gradually, industries moved out of the area and by the early 1980s only a collection of abandoned buildings remained. In an effort to restore Thea Foss Waterfront, Tacoma officials established the Foss Waterway Development Authority (FWDA). Berger/ABAM, in association with Thomas ook Reed Reinvald Architects, assisted the FWDA in turning Thea Foss Waterway into a vital link between downtown Tacoma and the Ruston Way waterfront to the north, as well as the Pacific Northwest's newest mixed-use waterfront community. Located in the heart of the growing Puget Sound area, just 35 miles south of Seattle, the 1.3-mile waterway development includes extensive landscapes, a public esplanade, finger piers, parks, a residential community, museums, and office and retail developments.

Berger/ABAM was responsible for the preliminary design of all civil, structural and marine aspects of the project. The Team prepared designs for realignment of 1.3 miles of the existing Dock Street; a new public esplanade along the waterway, including 1,600 feet of sheet pile bulkhead and three pile-founded finger piers designed for public access and as a connection to the extensive system of marina floats located on the waterway; and the relocation of utilities and other infrastructure.

West Point, the historic U.S. Military Academy (USMA), is located 54 miles north of New York City. Established in 1802, it is the oldest military academy in the United States and one of the largest school campuses in the world, occupying over 16,000 acres.

The Academy is currently planning improvements to the North Dock Area, located along the Hudson River and within the boundaries of the USMA National Historic Landmark District and the Hudson River Valley coastal scenic areas. The area is presently being used as a parking lot and construction staging area, as well as a helipad.

The Berger Group developed a master plan to transform the scenic site into a river walk displaying the site's attractive grounds as well as the rich history of the Academy. The new river walk development includes scenic overlooks, a recreational walk, a meeting pavilion, large gathering areas and numerous historical sites. Because the location is adjacent to railroad tracks, a noise barrier was incorporated into the design. The Team also prepared renderings to illustrate plan views, cross-sectional views and aerial views to stakeholders, as well as magnitude cost estimates to determine the costs for implementing the master plan. The costs were then attractively packaged to encourage funding from alumni contributions.

East Greenwich (population 13,616), the eighth oldest community in Rhode Island, is located a mere 15 miles south of the state capital, Providence. The Berger Group prepared a Comprehensive Community Plan for East Greenwich, updating the town's 1991 plan. Key components included upgrades of graphics, maps and general text amendments, as well as statistical updates to reflect current Census data and state population projections. The updated plan also incorporated a Capital Improvement Plan and a strategic downtown revitalization plan.