studio blog

The Importance of Community Gathering Space

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 10:11:11 -0400

I recently had the opportunity to visit a “Barn Jam” at AwendawGreen, a community get together located behind the Sewee Outpost in Awendaw. The setting was amazing; a fixer-up barn nestled under two towering live oaks that created a microclimate from the hot summer temperatures. People brought their lawn chairs and coolers stocked with beer and ice-cold beverages and sat back to enjoy the evening. It was a gathering of friends and neighbors who share a common interest in live, local music (mostly of the folk variety). I can’t say enough about the diverse talent I saw, not to mention the tasty kabobs cooked up by friends from the Sewee Outpost. It was one of those magical evenings where you realize just how important it is to have public spaces for people to meet and interact with one another, and we owe our thanks to Eddie White, the man who conceived the idea. Eddie, for his part, mingles through the crowd introducing himself so that strangers become friends, and newcomers feel as welcome as any seasoned veterans perched under the trees. The admission is free; although AwendawGreen does do a great amount of charity events, so if you're interested in going, check out the website to see what they've got going on. Places like the AwendawGreen make you feel proud to be a Charlestonian, and they help us all to understand the difference we can make, in creating a space for people to come together.
I just want to thank the volunteers that put this together; they are doing such a wonderful thing for their community. Having places like these have made this town feel like home.
http://awendawgreen.com/about/awendaw-green

-Cameron

green times ahead

Mon, 10 May 2010 17:37:50 -0400

The Sustain SC 2010 Conference and Expo is quickly approaching. urban edge studio is excited to announce that Bill and Russ will be speakers for one of the 22 Education Sessions occurring at the conference.
They will be speaking on Sustainable Community Design, showcasing small cities and towns of South Carolina and North Carolina that (at their core) have the bones of what make a great public realm, and how through the past century these towns have grown outward. Topics include how and why these deviations in development patterns occurred, why this is unsustainable, and how things can get better through sustainable design practices. A very interesting presentation that you should definitely attend!
The Sustain SC 2010 Conference and Expo is May 13th and 14th at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston. Registration information can be found at http://www.usgbcsc.org. SW+A will have a booth at the Expo, so come by and check us out!

Flexible Plans that Can Respond to the Market

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:48:36 -0400

With all of the changes in the economy, many developers, designers, builders, and municipalities have found themselves locked into rigid plans that no longer make sense. It is a tough scenario to be stuck in, having already lost money due to the economic downturn and now having to throw more time and money at a project to re-design and re-entitle it for the new economy.

So how do we learn from the past and begin to plan larger scale projects with enough flexibility to respond to small and large economic shifts, as well as changes in consumer trends? Form Based Planning offers a unique advantage in providing project flexibility on many levels. Here is how it works:

Instead of specifying "uses" within a project, Form Based Codes specify intensity zones (transect zones) that control form but allow a range of uses within each zone. So if the market no longer supports one use, then it is feasible to start building another.

Form Based Codes do not tie a project to specific lot lines. Instead, a number of lot types and standards are approved for each zone. If the consumer begins demanding smaller homes on smaller lots, then it is allowable to change the layout to include more of the smaller approved lot types.

Even the size of the transect zones themselves are flexible. The zones are typically permitted as a range of acres, allowing zones to grow or shrink to respond to changes in the market.

Form Based Codes often set up a system that allows uses in each transect zone "by right" or "by warrant" and establishes a streamlined approvals process. This configuration, in many cases, allows quick common sense decision making to take the place of the typically slow and dreadful appeals / variance processes. This helps create flexibility in facilitating unforeseen changes throughout the project.

Let us know if you need more information or would like to discuss whether Form Based Codes are right for your project.

First Affordable Housing PD in Mount Pleasant?

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:44:04 -0400

Harmony Way PD is on track to be the first work force housing form based PD in Mount Pleasant. We thank all of the patrons of the project, as the amount of support has been tremendous with over 100 letters and emails written to the Town in favor of the project! As with almost anything new, there is always opposition and the fear of what is not fully understood. We must do our part to educate those who don't fully grasp the concept of work force housing and hope that others will open their minds to density, flexibility, and the housing needs of our work force. The project will have a second and final Council reading on April 13th.

Congratulations to the Town of Mount Pleasant for recently receiving the SC Housing Achievement Award for all of their great work in the work force housing arena!

Read our Article in Planning Magazine!!

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:57:56 -0400

Check out what we have been doing to improve ourselves in these slower times. This is a great article on the experiences and lessons learned during our field trips.

apa article.pdf