Session 4: Public Spaces in Private Developments: Why, What, How?

Synopsis
Public spaces are not only good for the community – done right, they can be good for developer’s bottom line. Two developers and an architect who have included significant public spaces into greenfield and infill project explain the thought process that goes into evaluating and maximizing the value of public spaces. What are some bang-for-the-buck ideas for cost-effective public spaces? How do public policies shape development decisions regarding public space design?

David Sington Southwest Land Services
Developer of Goodwater (near Georgetown, TX) describes how the community plan incorporates many of the principles of the New Urbanism, and specifically how the public spaces (parks, lakes, etc...) make the development richer.

Larry Speck, FAIA Page Southerland Page
Great public spaces have economic value for cities and developers. This can even occur in a non-traditional sense: In one case involving a Houston outreach center operated by a local church, public space granted by the church, the space buffered the negative effects of the outreach center from the streetscape.

Tom Terkel Executive Vice President, Cencor Realty Services
Terkel explains how the Triangle located in north-central Austin provides proof positive that true public space can be beneficial to a new development. While management cannot charge rent in the public spaces, the benefits to adjacent lessees can certainly be remarkable. Terkel explains many of the issues management at the Triangle has encountered with the public-private setup.

Moderator: Rachel Proctor May, CNU

Big Ideas:
- Public spaces in private developments may not be profitable to developers in the traditional sense, they can often be beneficial to a project.

Places:
Discovery Green; Houston, TX

How is privately developed public space activated? The beauty of privately funded private spaces is that they are funded by the surrounding developments (for example, upkeep for Triangle is indirectly supported by those who live there, the lessees, and visitors.
What are effective ways to work with property owners to gain land for non-automobile connectivity? Speck points to the River North project which drew it's plan looking at publicly owned land, rather than drawing a path and soliciting cooperation from land owner.