Integration as an entire community was part of the design process.
•This project provides a mix of housing types and affordability
ranges.
•Integrated development of trails, play grounds, family recreation,
on-site school and village center.
Cultural heritage and historic patterns of land use were clearly
considered in the project.
• Historical/cultural perspective relates to past owners of property.
Building layout and street routing considered pedestrian needs,
safety and aesthetics.
• Some traffic calming devices have been used.
• Site design to allow greater pedestrian access.
Integrated access to natural areas has been provided.
• Integrated open space.
•David Jensen design integrated many important natural design and
cultural elements.
A sense of community belonging and “place” has
clearly been established.
School provides increased educational opportunities.
While there are many conventional aspects to this development,
it comes closer than any other projects in the area to fulfilling
the spirit and intent of “livable community” as sought
after in the Metropolitan Development Blueprint.
Faith in Motion
- Grand Rapids Center for Independent Living
Involvement in a great variety of learning initiatives on transit
issues.
Work with Friends of Transit for passing recent transit millage
election
Elevate issues of transit with area leaders and general public.
They have uniquely focused on and involved the Grand Rapids area
faith-based community.
This group has been involved directly with a great variety of
other groups throughout the area promoting new designs for urban
areas and improved transit options.
Specific spokespersons have been very effective in developing
the transit message throughout the metro region.
Community-based campaigns have led directly to the passing of
millages for transit purposes.
Upcoming strategy meetings will help determine what new directions
the group will be taking.
Ongoing operations which
are likely to continue with involvement in land development issues.
This groups aim and efforts
are clearly aimed at regionally meeting the area’s transit
needs.
Honorable Mentions
Creston Neighborhood Assn.
- Creston Grove Home Ownership Project:
The Creston Neighborhood Association implemented the Creston Grove
Home Ownership Project in 1998 to help stabilize and revitalize the
Creston neighborhood. It was determined by neighborhood association
staff that the greatest need for improvement was in that part of Creston
where home ownership had slipped to about 42% of their housing stock,
an area called Creston Grove. Crime and blight patterns seemed to suggest
that the lack of home ownership in this area was a primary determinant
and that a negative cycle of residential disinvestment may be spreading.
A program was needed to help end this “lose-lose” cycle
of owner-occupied abandonment and rental conversions.
The Creston Grove
Home Ownership project attained the direct involvement of many local
residents in research and project development, and educated dozens
of others through their home ownership seminars. Other involved authorities
included lenders, realtors, non-profit funding corporations, municipal
and school officials, academic institutions, and other neighborhood
groups. The project has become a model for assisting other neighborhood
associations in the Grand Rapids area. A major goal of the project
was to clean up vacated or rented properties and convert them into
new investment opportunities for homebuyers. The project has enabled
more efficient community use of residential properties by encouraging
overall neighborhood improvement. The traditional “working
class family neighborhood” is being re-established as part of
the cultural history of this community place.
Environment & Development Committee - Home Builders
Association of Greater Grand Rapids:
The Environment & Development Committee is a coalition of builders,
developers, and environmentalists with a consensus oriented board
to maintain understanding between parties and focus on positive areas
of agreement. The Committee is primarily involved in advising GGRHBA
Board as well as broad education and awareness activities. They have
attained a standing membership by WMEAC, LCWM, MUCC, MDEQ, GVMC, GVSU,
KCDC, KCHD, KCRC, developers, municipalities and others. One of its
main accomplishments has been the sponsorship and distribution of video
and printed materials on controversial growth subjects. This group
has facilitated involvement of officials and authorities and made information
available to the public through a variety of media. Cooperation between
state, county and local jurisdictions is also being enhanced.
Planning
Program - Alpine Planning Commission:
Alpine Township has become a leader in the metropolitan area in establishing
a planning program which fully considers the preservation of open
spaces as well as promoting good community design. The Alpine Township
Planning program is clearly orienting itself for actively promoting
open space developments in areas most suited for that purpose. Their
relationships with MDEQ and GVSU in particular have helped make them
a leader in the area on agricultural and open land preservation within
the Township. The comprehensive use of GIS in planning decisions have
elevated their ability to make timely decisions on development proposals
which are reflected in their regulatory statutes and administrative
processes. New statutes have created an “Open Space Neighborhood – Planned
Unit Development”
provision requiring the interconnection of open space and better designed
neighborhoods with surrounding parcels. This is an absolutely vital
part of creating smarter development in our fast growing suburban
areas and hopefully these techniques will be effective in practice.
