WR FINAL REPORT PRINT

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Report on Current Status and Recommendations for Revitalization

WINDY RIDGE COMMUNITY

Report by: Aditya Mokha | Fiona Cahill | Jyothi Raman | Katie Hamilton | Rachel Safren

Fall 2013 UNC Charlotte Master of Urban Design Community Planning

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ABSTRACTThe housing bust in 2008, and predatory lending practices resulted in thousands of foreclosures and suffering neighborhoods across the country.

Windy Ridge is a prime example that has garnered national attention because of its condition today, being coined “the new suburban slum”. The

133-single family lot development was built in the early 2000’s, in Charlotte’s industrial belt and is isolated from various resources. It consists of a

large renter population with many of the houses being owned by out-of-state landlords and property management companies. Those that do live

in Windy Ridge do not stay for an extended amount of time due to the lack of support both within the neighborhood and in the greater Charlotte

area; the transiency of the population of Windy Ridge makes it difficult to develop social capital through traditional community interaction.

This lack of connection to the neighborhood has resulted in higher crime rates and a lack of defensible space further aggravating the physical

challenges facing the neighborhood. While our studies of Windy Ridge found that multiple houses in the neighborhood are boarded up or in

deteriorating conditions, we believe these properties offer us an opportunity to explore a new housing model that offers sustainable affordable

housing structures for low-income individuals. The lack of social and political capital will require multiple stakeholders involvement within this minority

neighborhood if it is to become a stable community, including Habitat for Humanity, which already has a presence in Windy Ridge. Furthermore,

the current physical structure of the neighborhood also lessens the ability of residents to develop social capital, therefore we propose that a physical

redevelopment of the neighborhood will be crucial to the future stability and success of the community. We framed our proposal on research

including precedent studies of stable suburban communities, current cohousing models, work for rent models, and Charlotte’s munincipal code.

In addition, we researched available grant opportunities and possible partners, should our proposals be implemented, that include Habitat for

Humanity and Public Architecture’s One-Percent Initiative. Should our proposal be developed, Windy Ridge could be a pilot program for future

affordable housing models that focus on developing social capital and revitalizing struggling foreclosed neighborhoods through public-private

partnerships.

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TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction Purpose and Acknowledgments................................................................................................ Approach and Methodology..................................................................................................... Vision Statement...........................................................................................................................Windy Ridge: Past and Present........................................................................................................Precedent Studies..............................................................................................................................The Village at Winding Woods..........................................................................................................Appendix Site Photos....................................................................................................................................... Maps.............................................................................................................................................. Foundation and Grant Opportunites........................................................................................ Current Site Conditions................................................................................................................ Demographic Information............................................................................................................ In-Depth Precedent Study Research..........................................................................................Bibliography........................................................................................................................................

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INTRODUCTIONPurpose and Acknowledgments

Approach and MethodologyVision and Project Goals

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PURPOSE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis report is expanding on previous Charlotte Action Research Project (CHARP) and UNCC student research and analysis of the Windy Ridge

community in the Northwest quadrant of Charlotte, NC. This report provides an update on demographic information for the neighborhood and

offers more long-term proposals that could create a positive change in the community. Lastly, Charlotte is a city of neighborhoods and through

our research, we hope that all neighborhoods will become a success story.

We thank Dr. Janni Sorensen and Dr. José Gámez for their guidance, Liz Shockley for her advice and willingness to advance the cause of the Windy

Ridge residents, and the City of Charlotte’s Planning Department and Habitat for Humanity for their asssistance during our research phase.

Lastly, we hope this report will further advance the work of CHARP and D+SRC. CHARP is a partnership between the University of North Carolina

Charlotte and marginalized neighborhoods in the Charlotte area to build upon community strengths with the goal of developing more sustainable

neighborhoods and fostering social justice in the region. The Design + Society Research Center is an interdisciplinary center for the Masters of

Urban Design and Architecture that addresses issues of community development and empowerment.

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APPROACH AND METHODOLOGYTo better understand Windy Ridge’s past and current situation, the following was examined and analyzed:

• neighborhood demographics

• current news and housing trends in the United States

• the city of Charlotte’s munincipal codes

• research-based literature on affordable housing within a sububan context

• the impact of foreclosures on neighborhoods

Furthermore, we identified foundations, grants, and other programs that could support Windy Ridge improvements.

All of the information gathered in this report, and detailed in the Appendix, has influenced our design proposals for the transformation of Windy

Ridge.

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VISION STATEMENTWe aim to improve connections, both social and physical, in the Windy Ridge community between current residents and the greater Charlotte area that could reduce the high turnover of residents living in the neighborhood, decrease crime and lead to higher social capital and citizen engagement.

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WINDY RIDGE: PAST AND PRESENT

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HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENTWindy Ridge was built in the early 2000’s, with 133 single-family units marketed as starter homes. The neighborhood was only zoned for residential use; however, most of the lots in Windy Ridge were bought as real estate investments rather than for primary residences. Furthermore, the ownership of certain lots by tenants were often a result of predatory lending practices. When the housing market bust occurred in 2008, Windy Ridge immediately felt an impact as investors and homeowners fell into foreclosure.

Since then residents are not invested in the community and neighborhood engagement is low. As a result, crime has risen and any institutionally initiated improvements have had little to no impact on the betterment of the neighborhood. In addition there is resistance from the community adjacent to Windy Ridge, Todd Park, for physical improvements like a playground, for fear that it would attract further delinquent actions. Todd Park residents were against the Windy Ridge development from the beginning and there is still a sense of resentment that lingers over the area.

Finally, UNCC has had a long history of involvement in Windy Ridge, including neighborhood beautification projects, street lighting improvements, and attempts to build a sense of community within the neighborhood. Windy Ridge’s largely transient rental population has made it difficult for UNCC, CHARP and the D+SRC to maintain a stable and productive relationship with the neighborhood and its residents.

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WINDY RIDGE IN CONTEXTBased on the 2012 Quality of Life study performed by the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and UNCC, we have found that Windy Ridge is part of a larger district within the City of Charlotte called Todd Park. Within Todd Park much of the population is struggling. The district’s population has risen steadily in recent years and over seventy percent of the residents are minorities. In the Todd Park district almost ninety-eight percent of the population is within half a mile of a transit stop. However, this access to transportation does not cross over to Windy Ridge, because its structure oes not allow for a transit stop. The median household income in Todd Park is just over $47,000, while Mecklenburg County has a median income of almost $62,000. While Charlotte’s median income has continued to grow at a rate close to twelve percent and the Nation’s median income has grown at a rate over 19%, Todd Park’s median income has decreased. Furthermore, forty percent of Todd Park residents have only earned a high school diploma and six percent did not finish high school at all. Almost half of the population in this district is employed part-time and has to receive food and nutrition services. The childcare resources in Todd Park are lacking for the community youth as well. There is just one preschool in Todd Park and one school-age program in the area. Furthermore, residents also have a lack of accessibility to basic amenities such as grocery stores. The closest place to buy groceries is a convenience store that residents must cross train tracks and a busy highway to reach.

There has been no subsidized housing in the area for 6 years, however many of the area’s residents live right on the poverty line. Homeownership in the area has vastly decreased due to increased poverty and ownership by absentee lanlords and corporations. While Todd Park has more owner occupied homes than rental units, data retrieved from Mecklenburg County’s GIS site shows that Windy Ridge is largely owned by individuals and corporations that do not reside in Windy Ridge. According to GIS thirty-seven of the 133 homes in Windy Ridge are owned by individuals that consider Windy Ridge their primary residence, while seventy-one of the homes are owned by out-of-state landlords and corporations, meaning that over fifty percent of the property owners are not regularly on site.

*Additional information provided in appendix beginning on page 54.

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WINDY RIDGE DYNAMICSWhile Windy Ridge was built as a stater home community, many of the houses were bought as investments and used as rental properties. With the economic downturn, many landowners in Windy Ridge have seen a depreciation of their property values. Starter home communities such as Windy Ridge were hit especially hard with prices falling almost fifty-percent in low-priced communities according to Clear Capital, a valuation and analytics firm.

Windy Ridge has a neighborhood watch that was initiated a few years ago, but this neighborhood watch has been largely unsuccessful in deterring crime. According to the Charlotte Crime Information, the neighborhood’s current violent crime rate is thirty-nine percent and property crime rate is sixty-six percent higher than the national average. Crime is of particular concern in Windy Ridge with most criminal activity involving burglary and assault. Multiple murders have occurred in Windy Ridge in the last decade, including one as recently as February 4, 2013. The crimes in Windy Ridge are much more violent than those committed in the surrounding Todd Park area, even though the basic demographic information is comparable.

Of the thirty-seven houses that are owner occupied according to GIS data, ten percent are vacant, and four percent are boarded up. Most residents of Windy Ridge live in adequately maintained homes, where the grass is cut, but little else is done to improve curb appeal. Landscaping can be expensive and since most residents are short-term renters, there is little incentive to improve the aesthetic of the neighborhood and personalize their living space. Lastly, there are a few homeowners that have taken great care in maintaining their property, but it is overshadowed by the fifteen vacant and boarded up homes in Windy Ridge.

While homeownership may be a major priority for most neighborhood stabilization efforts, our comparisons of homeownership and the quality of care put into properties in Windy Ridge does not offer a direct correlation. While many homeowners do maintain their houses and yards, many others have not been capable of maintaining mortgage payments, and their houses are now boarded up or vacant. Additionaly, Habitat for Humanity’s presence in the neighborhood has not been successful in attracting homeowners, and multiple houses rehabilitated by Habitat are now empty.

These findings have led us to determine that stabilizing Windy Ridge will require additional steps beyond just encouraging homeownership.


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CURRENT SITE CONDITIONSAn analysis of Charlotte’s municipal code was conducted to compare how Windy Ridge was constructed and how it complies with current codes and regulations. We were unable to identify codes that would have applied to Windy Ridge during its construction phase, but an analysis of current conditions shows that there are areas for improvement.

Some homes in the neighborhood violate current code because they require basic manitenance, like new paint, and the removal of physical hazards, like trash and vehicles on front lawns. The code mandates that subdivisions should have access to Charlotte greenways, parks, schools, and other public spaces, as well as mature trees and natural vegetation. Furthermore, the code suggests that cul-de-sacs should be avoided; Windy Ridge not only has one entrance into the neighborhood, but has six cul-de-sacs that does nothing to promote social capital.

Improvements to Windy Ridge are difficult to initiate due to the number of out-of-state landlords and property management companies. However, the code states that the city of Charlotte has the power to investigate and condemn unsafe homes, utilize eminent domain to acquire property, and convict owners of unsafe properties with a class three misdemeanor. Not only does the city of Charlotte have the power to acquire Windy Ridge lots, but the code suggests that the city has the responsibility to take action. Any property acquired by the city, must be restructed as affordable housing for low to moderate income families.

Furthermore, the power of eminent domain is a crucial aspect in the development of our proposal. We envision the city of Charlotte becoming a central figure in the revitalization of the Windy Ridge community through its use of power and responsibility to its citizens, as is outlined in the munincipal code.


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PRECEDENT STUDIES

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SUBURBAN CONTEXT

To better understand why communities like Windy Ridge were developed in their current form, we studied past examples of the idyllic suburban community. One of the first suburbs built was Levittown in Long Island, NY in 1951; it was built for veterans and their families and provided space for 17,000 homes. There are similarities between Levittown and Windy Ridge, especially when comparing the house structure. As was the case in Levittown, all of the homes in Windy Ridge have a basic and easily replicable floor plan, with slight changes to the home’s facade. However, the differences between Windy Ridge and Levittown are important and provided a framework that has influenced our proposal. Levittown offerred its residents multiple shared community spaces that engaged families and built social capital. A shared common space in Windy Ridge is non-existent and we believe that this has exasperated the high rate of renter turnover in the neighborhood because there are no resources available to keep residents engaged with their neighbors and the greater Charlotte community.

In addition, we researched current trends in the United States and found that there is a growing trend amongst families. The National Association of Realtors has identified that Americans are now looking for walkable communities that are closer to urban centers and workplaces, and turning away from suburban communities that are only accessible with a long vehicular commute.

We believe that a sustainable village, with community amenitites, would increase resident engagement, decrease renter turnover, and lead to a more vibrant, responsible, and successful neighborhood.

*Additional information provided in appendix beginning on page 67. Wardlaw, Michelle. “Realtors Report Americans Prefer to live in Mixed-Use, Walkable Communities”. National Association of Realtors. November 1, 2013. Online Article.

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FORECLOSURE PRECEDENTAfter analyzing seven academic articles concerning foreclosures and their impact on neighborhoods and their residents, we have come to the realization that many of the problems Windy Ridge is experiencing have come from poor lending practices which have resulted in foreclosures, not just found in Windy Ridge but across the nation. One of the greatest challenges facing Windy Ridge is the high turnover rate of renters. The situation has exasperated the rate because of the abandoned and boarded up homes found in Windy Ridge, making it difficult to attract stable renters and homeowners alike. While the articles examined were framed within the context of the foreclosure crisis, they also focus on community-based action to revitalize struggling neighborhoods.

Some of the community-based actions that can help a neighborhood overcome the foreclosure crisis include creating more awareness on renter and homeowner rights and how communities can prevent foreclosures, and how the government can support the growth and development of these community organizations through better schools and policies. Furthermore, the articles help clarify the stresses foreclosure can place on individuals and communities, and how multiple stakeholders can play a role in relieving that burden in order to help individuals, communities, and the nation experience positive growth following the economic crisis of 2008.

Our proposal’s success, and what we believe could support Windy Ridge residents, demands and wholly depends on the participation of multiple stakeholders, like Charlotte’s City Council and Planning Commission, as well as Habitat for Humanity.


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CURRENT CASE STUDIESThe team conducted further research on housing models that would help frame our proposal for Windy Ridge. This research included Public Architecture and their one-percent initiative, sustainable village models, and collaborative housing methods.

Public Architecture is a non-profit that challenges professional architects to pledge one-percent of their time performing pro bono service. In addition, the organization has developed a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to create and build more innovative housing that is low-maintenance and promotes envrionmental sustainability.

Sustainable villages vary in complexity, but our analysis focused on work for rent models and kibbutzim. The team first encountered a model similar to work for rent precedents through Habitat for Humanity, where the organization requires future homeowners to put in sweat equity. Its an agreement between future homeowners and Habitat for Humanity that specifies how many hours a homeowner will have to put into the construction of their future home before they are allowed to move in. While this model is helpful, Windy Ridge already has Habitat for Humanity homes that still remain vacant. However, work for rent models may provide an alternative method for encouring residents to stay in Windy Ridge. A work for rent precedent is already in effect in a San Diego, CA, neighborhood, called City Heights. The neighborhood differs from Windy Ridge because it is much more connected to the greater San Diego area and was able to secure a benefactor that is supporting the revitalization process through the work for rent model. Residents in City Heights can work between seventeen to thirty-two hours a month within the community to help reduce the total cost of their rent.

The second village precedent that was examined is found in Israel. The country is known, among other things, for their sustainable villages where residents live and work on the same piece of land to support the entire community. Kibbutzim can operate on a community run model, where everyone is provided the same salary, a privatized model, where a resident will earn a salary based on the amount of work they put into the village, or an integrated model, that combines both the community and privatized model.Besides providing a model of how residents could earn extra money to support their cost of living, the kibbutzim also provides basic community services, like child care, home and vehicle repair shops, and communal garden to support the needs of their residents.


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CURRENT CASE STUDIESThe last precedent of communal housing models is similar to kibbuzim, but the physical and organizational structure of these communities were examined. Cohousing distinguishes itself from other housing modules in certain aspects by providing a fresh approch to solve growing affordable housing demands. Future residents participate in the design process from the initial concept of the community and to establish an organization which creates and maintains the work responsibilities of the residents, manages events and regulates policy & codes for the neighborhood. The dwelling units are usually designed along open spaces that face each other across a street or courtyard which serves as a playground or a garden. The community center houses activities like a huge dining hall, meeting place, a common kitchen and workshop. There is a non-hierarchical structure within the organization which is composed of residents and any disputes that occur are mostly resolved by consensus, voting is seldom used and is perceived as the last resort.

While these housing models provide examples of what could be implemented in Windy Ridge, we recognized that there is a need to identify methods of how Windy Ridge could begin this transformation. To better understand how a neighborhood could make a radical change, we researched existing community advisory committees and how cities have utilized their power of eminent domain.

Eminent Domain is a critical tool for revitalizing cities and improving the quality of life in neighborhoods. The careful use of eminent domain has been successful in the revitalization of many projects across the country. Greenville, South Carolina, provides such an example of how eminent domain was used to improve a neighborhood recently. Developed in the 1880s as a haven for freed slaves, the decaying housing structures and junk-strewn lots were replaced with 80 affordable new homes, ten rehabilitated residences, a new community center, and upgraded neighborhood infrastructure. The Greenville County Redevelopment Authority accomplished all this by acquiring blighted properties in order to assemble buildable sites for new homes. The authority used eminent domain only to acquire two holdout properties and to clear titles for abandoned and tax-delinquent properties. In 2006, it completed phased redevelopment activities with the successful return of more than one-third of the displaced households to the Freetown community.


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CURRENT CASE STUDIESThe last precedent study analyzes community advisory committees. There are multiple examples acorss the country, and includes a large scale initiative known as the Fruit Belt Partnership. Initiated by Daemon College’s Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement in Buffalo, New York, the partnership established an advisory board compososed of a professional staff and involves 23 members from the neighborhood, local businesses, the Greater Buffalo Savings Bank, Fannie Mae, and other community development corporations. The organization was able to raise money through public and private donors to help foster an educational partnership between the local college and neighborhood entities, and collaborated with a national non-profit that builds playgrounds for inner-city neighborhoods. Continued involvement by the students on an on-going and annual basis creates mutual good will, awareness and civic improvement.

While a physical neighborhood wide transformation is needed in Windy Ridge, the social capital and interactions that will result from a community advisory committee will help ensure future success and growth.

We believe organizations like Charlotte’s Planning Commission, Habitat for Humanity, Bank of America, UNCC and CHARP, and the Levine Foundation would all be strong partners in the revitalization of Windy Ridge.


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KEY FINDINGS AND AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENTWindy Ridge is a struggling neighborhood that lacks appeal for long-term residents. While prefabricated subdivisions were successful in the past because residents had access to community facilities, these are non-existent in Windy Ridge. As a result of high tenant turnover and lack of resources, there is little to no sense of community, which has lead to an increase in crime and residents feeling disenfranchised and unsupported by the City of Charlotte. Furthermore, the development as it exists today may not even have been approved for construction had the current munincipal code existed back in 2000. From an academic perspective, there has been much study about the impact of foreclosures on racial tensions in the United States, and Windy Ridge fits with this trend. To correct this situation, companies and non-profit organizations offer grants to help facilitate change in moderate to low-income neighborhoods that may apply to Windy Ridge.

While resources are available to support these neighborhoods, many past initiatives implemented in Windy Ridge have been short term solutions that do little to hinder the neighborhood’s decline. While Windy Ridge has been touted as the new ‘suburban slum’ across the nation, there are resources and policies already in place to turn the tide and recreate the neighborhood as a new model for affordable housing that focuses on strengthening communities.

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THE VILLAGE AT WINDING WOODS

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SITE PLAN FOR THE VILLAGE AT WINDING WOODS

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TAKING THE INITIATIVE In order to begin considering the physical changes that need to be made to the neighborhood, its imperative that a partnership between multiple parties develop to ensure the projects long-term success. A community action committee between residents, Charlotte business and civic leaders, and UNCC organizations could provide the appropriate level of engagement and resources needed to support Windy Ridge in the long-term. We envision the community action committee developing and submitting a proposal to rezone the neighborhood, drafting a work for rent contract and program for future residents, ensuring that community resources like public transportation and daycare facilities are easily accessible. Perhaps more important than anything else, the community action committee will monitor the neighborhood’s progress and redirect the plan as needed.

After the committee has been established, it will be necessary to rezone the neighborhood to accomodate for future density. Not only will more residents in the community help provide more ‘eyes on the street’ and possibly more interactions among neighbors, but will allow for more community resources to become available. The current number of residents does not support the addition of an extra public bus stop in the neighborhood, and residents have to walk to the entrance of the community or into Todd Park in order to access this resource.

The committee may also help establish a case for Charlotte City Council to utilize their power of eminent domain. While some properties may need to be acquired through eminent domain, it may be possible to work out an agreement between the City and current landlords and property management companies. As was the case with Greenville, SC, many previous City Heights property holders were willing to receive a fair-market value for the land.

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0-1 year

1-2 years

2-3 years

3-4 years

6-7 years

Develop a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that involves City elected officials and employees, UNCC students and CHARP, Windy Ridge and Todd park Residents, Habitat for Humanity, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Local Schools, the Urban Land Institute, local businesses and other non-profits. The aim of this committee would be to revitalize struggling neighborhoods in the greater Charlotte area that might impact affordable housing for middle to low income residents, utilizing Windy Ridge as the pilot program. Launching with renaming of the neighborhood to “Village at Winding Woods.”

Contact City to initiate Spot Blight Eminent Domain – taking over absentee landlord homes, blighted homes and non-Habitat for Humanity homes.

Develop a neighborhood organization that leads and reports back to the Community Advisory Committee.

Collaborative Housing Model

Neighborhood organization conducts a pulse check and re-examines policies and goals and re-organizes as required.

Contact Habitat for Humanity to work with City on a joint venture initiating additions and alterations to homes in the neighborhood.

Apply for rezoning to Multi-Family.

Research grants applicable to the neighborhood.

CoHouse Phase 1: Reference Phasing drawing #1.

Eminent Domain applied successfully by City. Habitat for Humanity and City embark on the joint venture creating legal documents including master plan.

Social Capital Economic Growth and Efficiency Environmental Protection

Strengthen neighborhood watch program. Resident receive rent subsidies for working in community (form of sweat equity.)

Plant street trees and grow community gardens.

CoHouse Phase 2 : Reference Phasing drawing #2.

Provide programs about responsible homeownership. Conduct job fairs.

Rent subsidies for nearby Businesses’ employees.

Conduct youth programs, vocational training and adult educational facilities.

Conduct neighborhood targeted marketing.

Interconnect community gardens with pervious pathways.

CoHouse Phase 3 : Reference Phasing drawing #3.

Neighborhood Organization becomes the primary group with CAC taking on advisory role.

Affordable Housing options available with Alternate ownership models including Homeowners, Neighborhood Association owned -rented, and rent to own .

Extend and connect neighboring greenways into the neighborhood.

4-5 years

5-6 years

Provide Public Transit Bus Station near Community Center.

Create a secondary access into the neighborhood.

TIMELINE OF INITIATIVES

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PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTSTo increase density, homes will be added in between the existing detached single-family homes. With in-fill housing, groupings of 10 units will be constructed, with a communal house in the middle. The communal house will have enough room to house a large kitchen and dining room that could accomodate community dinners and events. While the communal houses will have a large kitchen to support multiple families, individual units will have small kitchens as well for day to day activities. This typology will surround the community, while other completely detached homes and townhomes will also be made available. Detached single-family homes will frame the communal gardens and farms, replacing the existing cul-de-sac structure. These families will have access to a separate communal house located in the middle of their section or at the front for easy access. The farming communal house will support the same functions that the first typology described above offers. The third community structure will be a large building that support the needs for the townhomes located in the middle of the community, but provide enough space for community-wide events and resources, like a daycare and educational center.

To improve connectivity to the greater Charlotte area, we propose that a second roadway be constructed to enter and exit the neighborhood. Once the community has been rezoned and density increases, there will be a strong argument for the construction of the road, which will further support the need for a public bus stop in the neighborhood. In addition, we suggest that the surrounding greenways be extended into the community to not only help support healthy lifestyles for village residents, but it will diminish the sense of isolation currently felt in the neighborhood.

To increase awareness of the neighborhood and give it a sense of identity, we propose that Habitat for Humanity and Public Architecture participate in the revitalization process through their One Percent Initiative. The initiative will provide a new design and aesthetic to the neighborhood. While we encourage their involvement, we also suggest that each sector and group of the neighborhood have its own identifiable color that would be made visible on doors, window shutters, etc.

Lastly, we propose that physical improvements to the neighborhood occur through three different phases. The phases allow current homeowners to ease into the transition, future residents to add input and sweat equity into the project, and stakeholders the opportunity to monitor the community’s progress.

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PHASING OF IMPROVEMENTS

1. Demolish buildings and Cul-de-scacs to build community gardens.

2. Existing Residential units retained with required rehab to form part of collaborative housing units.

3. Infill redidential units to increase density and form part of CoHousing.

4. Secondary access to the neighborhood.

5. Common House for each Cluster.

6. Community Garden developed by residents through sweat equity receiving rent subsidies.

7. Gravel Parking spaces

8. Multiple Rows of Street Trees creating a green boulevard connecting the community gardens to the future green-way planned in the area.

9. Existing buildings and infrastructure are left as is until the next phase, minimizing disruption in daily life of the current residents.

PHASING DRAWING #1

COHOUSE: PHASE 1

1. Infill with Cohousing units in between the existing residential units creating a cluster with a common house.

2. A common house for every cluster.

4. Residential units around the cil-de-sac are retained and formed as part of a cohousing unit with community garden and a common house.

5. Community gardens inter-connected with pathways made of pervious paving materials.

7. Common House as a Com-munity Center with Day Care facilities and Recreational facilities trying to form a great-er connection with nearby neighborhoods.8. Townhomes - creating a varied choice of housing in the neighborhood.

9. Providing public transit - bus stop near the Community Center.

6. Gravel Parking Spaces.

PHASING DRAWING #2

COHOUSE: PHASE 2


10. Existing buildings and infrastructure are left as is until the next phase, minimizing disruption in daily life of the current residents.

1. Infill with Cohousing units in between the existing residential units creating a cluster with a common house.

COHOUSE: PHASE 3

PHASING DRAWING #3

2. A common house for every cluster.

7. Residential units around the cil-de-sac are retained and formed as part of a cohousing unit with community garden and a common house.

8. Extending and connecting neighboring Greenways into the neighborhood and form-ing a connection with Todd Park neighborhood and Mt. Zion Church.

4. Community gardens inter-connected with pathways made of pervious paving materials.

3. Townhomes - creating a varied choice of housing in the neighborhood.

5. Gravel Parking Spaces.


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FLOOR PLAN FOR COMMON HOUSE

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FLOOR PLAN FOR COMMUNITY CENTER

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SECTIONS OF PROPOSED DESIGN

Common house as a Community Center with day care facilities and recreational activities trying to form a greater connection with nearby neighborhoods.

Townhomes - creating a varied choice of housing in the neighborhood with wrap around decks forming interesting street level interaction.

Gravel parking spaces creating pervious surfaces helping with stormwater management and reducing stormwater-runoff.

Common house for smaller units and infill units. Balconies and Decks facing the street - creat-ing ‘eyes on the street’ - forming secure and safe places for people.

Interesting pocket spaces created by the infill units and common house - safe for children to play.

Shared street concept with on-street parking on both sides reducing speed and increasing street level activities.

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Common house for smaller units and infill units. Balconies and Decks facing the street - creating ‘eyes on the street’ - forming secure and safe places for people.


Multiple rows of street trees creat-ing a boulevard connecting the community garens to the future greenway planned in the area.

Townhomes - creating a varied choice of housing in the neighborhood with wrap around decks forming interesting street level interaction.

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Cul-de-sacs converted to Community Gardens - developed and maintained by residents through sweat equity and receiving rent subsidies, creating economic equity, healthy environment and social capital.

Common house for smaller units and infill units. Balconies and Decks facing the street - creating ‘eyes on the street’ - forming secure and safe places for people.

Common House for each cluster where residents meet for cooking, dining and other shared common interests.

Existing residential units retained as is around the cul-de-sac areas, with a new common house for the cluster - creating co housing with shared uses.


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COMMON HOUSE AND STREET VIEW

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PERSPECTIVE OF COMMUNAL FARM

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PERSPECTIVE OF COMMUNITY CENTER

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APPENDIXSITE PHOTOS

MAPSFOUNDATION AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

CURRENT SITE CONDITIONSDEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

PRECEDENT STUDIES

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SITE PHOTOS

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APPENDIXSITE PHOTOS



PRECEDENT STUDIES

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MAP OF GREENWAYS NEAR WINDY RIDGE

• Existing Greenways around Windy Ridge

Quality of Life Study, 2012. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/nbs/communityengagement/QOL/Pages/QualityofLifeStudyMap.aspx#

GIS Maps. http://charmeck.org/maps/Pages/default.aspx

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MAP OF NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES1. DDH RELIABLE NOTARY, Public Notary, 407 West Ave., 704-392-49102. DK WAYSIDE TRUCK & TRAILER, Truck Repair Shop, 6035 Old Mount Holly Rd., 704-697-86283. UNIVERSAL FASTENERS, Fastener Distributor, 5930 Old Mount Holly Rd., 704-392-53424. PLASTEX FABRICATORS, Industrial parts manufacturer 5900 Old Mount Holly Rd., 703-393-40405. ACCURATE AUTOMOTIVE, Auto Mechanic 5600-A Brookshire Blvd.., 704-394-46356. WACHOVIA, Bank 5641 Hovis Rd., 704-391-76797. SAM’S MART, Gas Station 5455 Brookshire Blvd.., 704-399-52008. GREATER SALEM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, School 5218 Salem Church Rd., 704-394-44299. HIPPS HARDWARE, ACE Hardware Shop 5539 Hovis Rd., 704-399-522110. NAPA, Auto Parts Retailer 5312 Rozzelles Ferry Rd., 704-392-739311. MILLENIUM AUTO TRUCK & MARINE, Mechanic 5435 Hovis Rd., 704-391-123512. MONARCH COLOR CORP., Printing Ink Provider 5327 Brookshire Blvd., 704-394-462613. CHARLOTTE BLOCK, Concrete Block Manufacturer 5125 Rozzelles Ferry Rd., 704-399-452614. RYERSON SALES/SERVICE OFFICE, Metals Distributor and Processor 5435 Hovis Rd., 704-588-338115. INTERNATIONAL PAPER, Paper and Packaging Industry 5419 Hovis Rd., 704-392-414116. ECONOMY GRINDING & STRAIGHTENING, Metal Grinding Services 5401 Hovis Rd., 704-399-279717. MCGEE METAL FABRICATION, Fabrication and Design 5205 Hovis Rd., 704-697-998618. BIG L FOOD SERVICE, Asian Food Product Wholesaler 5526 Terminal St., 704-392-871719. PRIME MEATS, Meat Supplier 1000 Exchange St., 704-399-030620. SOUTHEAST FLEET SERVICES, Truck Service and Repair 1201 Exchange St., 704-749-5170

Image and Notes from the report by Community Planning Workshop Students of Fall semester 2011, UNCC.

42

ZONING MAP



• Heavy Industrial zoning around Windy Ridge and Todd Park area which is zoned Single Family creates an island which is not very appealing to home buyers building into the current situation faced in Todd park.

43

LANDUSE MAP



44

APPENDIXSITE PHOTOS



PRECEDENT STUDIES

45

ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS • Their Mission:

• Our mission is to create opportunity for low- and moderate income people through affordable housing in diverse, thriving communities.

• For housing to be a springboard to a good life, it must exist in a supportive living environment with jobs, quality schools, child care, transportation, health care and support for seniors, with access to parks, community spaces and food and retail services that support a healthy lifestyle. Enterprise develops and preserves affordable housing in communities linking people to opportunities for success. When these links are absent, Enterprise forms partnerships and bridges gaps toward creating more vibrant places for people to live and pursue their dreams.

• Headquartered in Columbia, Md., Enterprise has offices and an on-the-ground presence across the United States. We offer a range of financial products and programs to improve and increase the supply of affordable housing as well as revitalize communities.

Enterprise Community Partners. About Us. http://www.enterprisecommunity.com/about/mission-and-strategic-plan

46

ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY DESIGN • Their Mission:

• Established in 1977, the Association for Community Design (ACD) is a network of individuals, organizations, and institutions committed to increasing the capacity of planning and design professions to better serve communities. ACD serves and supports practitioners, educators, and organizations engaged in community-based design and planning.

• Their Vision • Serve as the primary clearinghouse for community design

practitioners, educators, and organizations • Advance research, education, and best practices in community

design • Provide a national voice on policies that affect community design

Association for Community Design. About.http://www.communitydesign.org/about

47

DUKE ENERGY FOUNDATION • Environment

• Programs that support conservation, training and research around environmental initiatives.

• Initiatives that support the efficient use of energy, but that also do not create a conflict with the programs approved in the regulated jurisdictions (reducing cost of utility service).

• Economic Development • Initiatives that support the company’s economic

development strategies (may vary by region) • Skills and workforce development.

• Education • K-12 education focused on science, technology,

engineering and math (STEM). • Higher education, focused on (STEM) and

environment related programs. • Community Vitality

• Human services, arts, cultural, and community safety. • Community leadership development.

Duke Energy Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation: Areas of Focus, Duke Energy Foundation Annual Grants. www.duke-energy.com/community/foundation/areas-of-focus.asp

48

CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

• Children and Youth Foundation initiatives focused on children and youth have been Instrumental in leveraging broad support for programs that benefit our young people. The 2013 grant cycle for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation’s Children and Youth Grants Program is now closed.

• Environment The Foundation has partnered with numerous organizations to help preserve the environment and improve the quality of life in our region. A major collaborative initiative supported by discretionary funds from Foundation For The Carolinas is the

• Housing Housing is a basic need and a pivotal determinate of a city’s economy and workforce, physical environment, transportation system, public health, education and overall quality of life for individuals and families. The Foundation wants to ensure adequate and accessible affordable housing and support services for individuals and families to maintain stable housing options.

• Workforce Development By focusing on the development of people in our community, workforce development enhances a region’s economic stability and prosperity. The Foundation’s intention is to support initiatives that will help individuals entering the workforce to obtain stable employment with a living wage, benefits and opportunity for advancement

• Social Capital Social capital refers to connections among individuals. To better understand and improve the stock of social capital in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Foundation has supported the work of a number of organizations, including Community Building Initiative and Front Porch Grants. These initiatives intensify the commitment and increase the capacity of the Charlotte- Mecklenburg community in achieving racial and ethnic inclusion and equity.

• Front Porch Grants The Front Porch Grants program fosters building social capital between individuals, communities, neighborhoods and organizations. The goal of the Front Porch Grants program is to increase trust, build bridges across differences and expand social connections and informal networks by building relationships. Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation: Grants | http://www.fftc.org/page.aspx?pid=1395

49

HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER OF CHARLOTTE

• The City of Charlotte and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Inc. (CMHP/ The Housing Partnership) joined forces January 4th, 2011 to more efficiently administer the HouseCharlotte Program.

• Program Features: • The HouseCharlotte program provides 10-year,

deferred, forgivable loans to qualified applicant’s . Funds can be used to cover down payment, closing cost, and interest rate buy down.

• Funding up to $5,000 for families with income above 80% AMI, up to 110% Area Median Income (AMI)

• Funding up to $7,500 for families with income at or below 80% (AMI)

• Funding up to $10,000 for families with income at or below 60% AMI in select HouseCharlotte areas.

HouseCharlotte Program Features. 601 Charlotte Park Dr. Suite 350, Charlotte, MC28217

http://www.cmhp.org/Homeownership-Program/HouseCharlotte-Program.cfm

50

NEIGHBORWORKS AMERICA • National Homeownership Programs offer a continuum of

strategies to ensure successful sustainable homeownership for people of modest means in every state.

• As the current foreclosure crisis is demonstrating, successful sustainable homeownership begins with educated consumers who have the tools, capacity and options to make good choices about their homeownership decision, financing products and maintaining their homes.

• The NeighborWorks continuum of strategies includes (among others):

• Pre-purchase education • Loan Origination and Brokering • Affordability Assistance • Post-Purchase Education • Retention of Homeownership through Property

Rehabilitation and Responsible Refinancing • Foreclosure Intervention and Solutions

• It takes all of these strategies, described in further detail in the following sections, to create and sustain quality homeownership and to expand sustainable homeownership.Laughman, Angela. National Homeownership Program. http://www.nw.org/network/neighborworksProgs/ownership/default.asp999 North Capital Street NE Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20002

51

MACARTHUR FOUNDATION • The MacArthur Foundation supports practice-driven, evidence-

based, policy-focused efforts to make stable, high-quality, affordable housing available and sustainable for more families cross the country. Our grant-making priorities are to:

• Support nonprofit owners, lenders, and policy organizations to increase construction and preservation of affordable rental housing;

• Build organizational capacity and financial strength in the affordable housing sector;

• Help to balance the goals of energy conservation and affordability through research, policy, and practice in “green” housing finance; and

• Seed rigorous research to explore the social and economic value of housing beyond shelter and to inform sound, cost- effective policy.

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation: Housing Grant Guidelines. http://www.macfound.org/info-grantseekers/grantmaking-guidelines/housing-grant-guidelines/ 10.12.2012

52

APPENDIXSITE PHOTOS



PRECEDENT STUDIES

53

BEHAVIOR MAPSBehavior Map Saturday Noon

Behavior Map Weekday Morning

ArcGIS Based Maps

54

MINIMUM STANDARDS OF FITNESS FOR HABITATION

• Since Windy Ridge has a number of homes that are rented out, the following would mainly apply to current absentee landlords.

• The ordinance states: “No person shall occupy as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy or use as a human habitation, any place of habitation which does not comply with all of the minimum standards of fitness for human habitation and all of the requirements of this article.”

• Some minimum standards include: • “All doors providing access to any place of habitation shall have operable locks, and,

in the case of dwellings and dwelling units, the owner or operator shall provide a change of locks or keys for new tenants.

• There shall be no deterioration because of lack of preventive maintenance consisting of painting, waterproofing, and repair.

• Yards and courts shall be kept clean and free of physical hazards, rubbish, trash, garbage, junked vehicles, vehicle parts and other similar material.”

CURRENTVIOLATION

Article III: Minimum Standards of Fitness for Habitation, Chapter 11: Housing. Code of Ordinances, Charlotte, North Carolina. http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?cli-entId=19970.

55

CURRENTVIOLATION

CITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES • An important regulation to consider for future plans is that the City has the power to

acquire property to provide housing for low- and moderate-income persons, this includes: • vacant structures boarded up as a result of housing code violations • structures that have been found to contain housing code violations that the property

owner has failed or refused to correct within a reasonable time • vacant properties rendered vacant as a result of a housing code enforcement

demolition order

• The owner has 150 days to take action before the City acquires the property.

• In addition, the City must plan to house lower to moderate income residents in the acquired property.

• There are already vacant homes in Windy Ridge; our group has an opportunity to work closely with the City’s Planning Department to improve the use of those homes that could be acquired through code violations.

Chapter 7: City Services and Facilities. Code of Ordinances, Charlotte, North Carolina. http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=19970.

56

SUBDIVISIONS • The updated code on subdivisions (updated Dec. 2010) states that the purpose of the

subdivision section is to: “promote the orderly development of the city and county… and to protect and enhance environmental quality; and to create conditions essential to health, safety, convenience and the general welfare.”

• The code is then organized into different factors that need to be considered when developing a subdivision today in Charlotte.

• The following are factors that the Windy Ridge neighborhood does not meet and may garner support from various stakeholders when approached with suggestions for improvement:

• Streets: “Provide more and safer transportation choices by creating a better-connected network. The street network should be designed to provide interconnected streets so as to facilitate the most advantageous development of the entire neighborhood or area of the city. All new development should provide for more than one access for ingress and egress, where feasible. Cul-de-sacs and other permanently dead-end streets should be avoided.”

• Mature trees and natural vegetation: “Streets and development sites should be designed to protect and preserve, to the greatest extent practicable, stands of mature trees and other areas of significant natural vegetation.”

• Access to parks, schools, greenways, etc: “Streets shall be designed or walkways dedicated to ensure convenient access to parks, greenways, playgrounds, schools and other places of public assembly.”

Chapter 20: Subdivisions. Code of Ordinances, Charlotte, North Carolina. http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=19970.

57

TREES AND NATURAL VEGETATION • The City’s Code has an entire chapter dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of

Charlotte’s urban forest. • The following is the City’s rational for dedicating funds to the care of trees, all of which could

apply to why it is necessary for trees to be planted in Windy Ridge. • “Protect, facilitate and enhance the aesthetic qualities of the community to ensure that tree removal

does not reduce property values • Emphasize the importance of trees and vegetation as both visual and physical buffers • Promote clean air quality by reducing air pollution and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere,

returning pure oxygen to the atmosphere and increasing dust filtration • Reduce the harmful effects of wind and air turbulence, heat and noise, and the glare of motor

vehicle lights • Minimize increases in temperatures on lands with natural and planted tree cover • Maintain moisture levels in the air of lands with natural tree cover • Preserve underground water reservoirs and permit the return of precipitation to the groundwater

strata • Prevent soil erosion • Provide shade • Minimize the cost of construction and maintenance of drainage systems necessitated by the

increased flow and diversion of surface waters by facilitating a natural drainage system and amelioration of storm water drainage problems

• Conserve natural resources, including adequate air and water • Require the preservation and planting of trees on site to maintain and enlarge the tree canopy cover

across the city”Chapter 21: Trees. Code of Ordinances, Charlotte, North Carolina. http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=19970.

58

NOISE VIOLATIONS • Through research and second-hand accounts, we understand that residents complain about

living in close proximity to the railway. While moving the railway is not an option, changing the schedule to reduce noise pollution is something to consider.

• “The chief of police may designate a commercial or industrial business as a ‘chronic noise producer.’ In making such a designation, the chief of police shall take into consideration the following factors:

• The number and frequency of valid noise complaints • The proximity and physical relationship between the business and complaining locations • The severity of sound events, both observed or measured • The times and days of the week of sound events • The business’ history of cooperation and efforts to alleviate the problem

• Upon designation, the chief of police shall inform the business that it has been designated a chronic noise producer and refer the business to neighborhood & business services (N&BS) along with the information that established the basis for the designation.”

Chapter 15: Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, Article: III: Noise. Code of Ordinances, Charlotte, North Carolina. http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clien-

tId=19970.

59

REGULATORY AND PLANNING FUNCTIONS • The Regulatory and Planning Chapter provides an account of what authoritative acts the City

can act upon if any codes are violated and not remedied in a set amount of time. • It also outlines the City’s definition of equal housing. This aspect of non-discriminatory

practices could provide for an additional perspective when considering the current status of the neighborhood.

• Most Windy Ridge residents are minorities and one could argue that the City’s definition of equal housing is not being upheld in the neighborhood, which could garner additional support for change from the City.

• Most importantly, the City has the power to inspect and condemn unsafe and dangerous buildings.

• If the owner of any condemned building fails after receiving notice to repair or remove the structure, he or she could be found guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

• In addition, if the owner fails or, if the owner cannot, after a reasonable search and notice by publication be located, then the City may enter upon such premises and remedy such unsafe and dangerous condition or demolish and remove such building or structure if necessary.

• The owner would be responsible for the cost of any removal services and a lien will be held against the property.

• While this regulation holds the owner, including absentee landlords, responsible for the property, it still places a burden on the resident who may not have the resources available to repair any damages the City considers unsafe before being evicted.Chapter 6: Regulatory and Planning Functions. Code of Ordinances, Charlotte, North Carolina. http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=19970.

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CURRENT SITE CONDITIONS SUMMARY • Windy Ridge does not meet many of Charlotte’s code, which could have both negative and

positive impacts on the residents. • A working group with the City’s Planning Department could clarify what violations could be

remedied and what actions the City is willing to take in order to help the neighborhood meet current standards.

NEGATIVE IMPACTS and CONSIDERATIONS

POSITIVE IMPACTS and OPPORTUNITIES

• Windy Ridge homes are already showing signs of deterioration and code violations for unsafe rubbish and physical hazards.

• The City could determine homes to be unfit and condemn them without giving residents an opportunity to repair damage, especially if an absentee landlord refuses to assist with any clean up efforts.

• The City could acquire houses that are already vacant and boarded up. • Noise pollution from the nearby railway could be reduced. • An additional road could be built into the neighborhood. • Residents could access more greenways and parks. • Windy Ridge could lobby for more trees to be planted in the neighborhood.

61

APPENDIXSITE PHOTOS



PRECEDENT STUDIES

62

POPULATION

0

200

400

600

800

1000

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Population

Population

0

50

100

150

200

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Youth Population

Youth Population

Races in Todd Park

Youth Population

Population

• The following data represents the entire Todd Park area, which includes Windy Ridge.

• The population has risen steadily over the past few years and over half of the residents are minorities.

*Data represents both Windy Ridge and Todd Park. Quality of Life Study, 2012 - Created by the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and UNCC. Retrieved through J. Murrey Atkins Library: http://guides.library.uncc.edu/commplanwksp - Local and national Data. http://guides.library.uncc.edu/content.php?pid=148438&sid=4116665

63

PROPERTY VALUE

$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Average House Value

Average HouseValue

-0.08

-0.06

-0.04

-0.02

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

% Change in Housing Value

% Change inHousing Value

$30,000

$31,000

$32,000

$33,000

$34,000

$35,000

$36,000

$37,000

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Median Household Income

MedianHouseholdIncome

Average House Value

Percent Change in Housing Value

Median Household Income

• Windy Ridge was built as a starter home community, but residents have lost money with the depreciation of their property’s value.


64

RESIDENT TYPE • Windy Ridge is now a large renter community,

with many landlords living out of the Charlotte area.

• Current landlords and investors can be found throughout the nation, but are mainly focused in the greater New York City area, Los Angeles area, and Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.

• A wind shield survey showed that there are multiple properties thar are vacant and a few that are boarded up within Windy Ridge.

• Our group was able to identify 9 homes that have been purchased by Habitat for Humanity and renovated to fit future tenants.

• We are currently engaged in a dialogue with Habitat for Humanity’s Director, Darrell White, about why homes in Windy Ridge that have been retrofitted by the organization are difficult to place back in the hands of residents.

Landlord Location Map

Owner Type:GIS Resource Center, City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County - GIS Maps. Produced by Charlotte-Meckelenburg Planning Commission - April 22, 2006 -

http://charmeck.org/maps/Documents/Zoning/GeneralizedZoning.pdf

65

Renter Versus Homeowner Neighborhood Map

Owner Type:GIS Resource Center, City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County - GIS Maps. Produced by Charlotte-Meckelenburg Planning Commission - April 22, 2006 -


66

Property Owners Neighborhood Map

Owner Type. GIS Resource Center, City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County - GIS Maps. Produced by Charlotte-Meckelenburg Planning Commission - April 22, 2006 -


67

Wel

l Mai

ntai

ned

Ade

quat

ely

Mai

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ned

Poor

ly M

aint

aine

d

Boar

ded

Up

Vaca

nt

Windshield Survey Neighborhood Map

Conducted by Katie Hamilton and Rachel Safren on Wednesday, September 18, 2013.

68

RESIDENT TYPE CONTINUED

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

% Substandard Housing

% SubstandardHousing

44.00%

46.00%

48.00%

50.00%

52.00%

54.00%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

% Homeowners

% Homeowners

Percentage Substandard Housing

Percentage Homeowners

Housing Inventory: Percentage Residential Dwell-


69

EDUCATION

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Dropout Rate

Dropout Rate

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

% of Children Passing Competency Exams

% of ChildrenPassingCompetencyExams

Dropout Rate

Percentage of Children Passing Competency Exams

Highest Education Level Attained


70

NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIESPercentage Persons with Access to Basic Retail

Percent of Persons with Access to Public Transportation

0.00%

50.00%

100.00%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

% Persons with Access to Basic Retail

% Persons withAccess to BasicRetail

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

% of Persons with Access to Public Transportation

% of Persons withAccess to PublicTransportation

• Residents do not have access to basic amenities, like grocery stores and public transportation. • The closest store is a 7-Eleven. Residents need to cross over train tracks and a busy highway in order to reach the store. • Windy Ridge only has one bus stop at the entrance of the neighborhood. In comparison, Todd Park has 6 bus stops.


71

CRIMINAL ACTIVITYViolent Crime Rate

Property Crime Rate

Juvenile Crime Rate

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Violent Crime Rate

Violent CrimeRate

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Property Crime Rate

Property CrimeRate

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Juvenile Crime Rate

Juvenile CrimeRate

• A neighborhood watch was initiated but largely unsuccessful, even with street lights remaining on in the neighborhood. • This may be due, in part, because residents do not feel attachment to the community and do not feel the need to speak up and keep a watchful eye out for their neighbors.


72

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY CONTINUED • Crime is a major concern in Windy Ridge, with most activity involving burglary, and

assaults. • A murder also occurred in Windy Ridge on February 4, 2013. • The crimes committed in Windy Ridge are much more violent than the surrounding Todd

Park area, even though the basic demographic information (race, income levels, etc) are similar.

Windy Ridge Crime Map: Last 3 Months

Windy Ridge Crime Activity Compared to Todd Park

http://www.trulia.com/crime/Charlotte,NC,Todd_Park/ http://spotcrime.com/#35.277814%2C%20-80.90136

73http://spotcrime.com/#35.277814%2C%20-80.90136

INCOME AND COST OF LIVINGPercent Change in Income

Percent of Persons Receiving Food Stamps

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

% Change in Income

% Change inIncome

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

% of Persons Receiving Food Stamps

% of PersonsReceiving FoodStamps

• Windy Ridge residents have seen their incomes fall dramatically.

• Most of the population relies on subsidies from the government, including affordable housing and food stamps.


74

APPENDIXSITE PHOTOS



PRECEDENT STUDIES

75

LEVITTOWN:AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SUBURBAN CONTEXT

• Levittown was the first mass produced suburb in the U.S.

• Built in 1951, in Long Island, NY, it accommodated 17,000 homes and allowed homeownership to become more readily available to American citizens.

• The idea stemmed from the need to provide low cost housing to veterans.

• The development was met with great enthusiasm and the first 2,000 houses were sold within two days after the announcement.

• The process of buying a Levittown home was so lucid that after selecting the type of unit, a family could complete the purchase of a home within three minutes.

• Cost of a typical home was $7,000 to $9,000. • There were six different types of units to

choose from and no two style houses were placed side by side.

• This helped in eradicating monotony of facades and enhanced the street’s character providing aesthetic appeal for its residents. Whereas in windy ridge the houses vary in dimensions but the style remains constant through out. The streets look bare without tree cover and scanty plantations provides limited privacy for the residents.

76

LEVITTOWN: ACHIEVING AFFORDABILITY • A typical unit was built on concrete slabs and used

precut timber for fast on-site execution. • Eliminating the basement and option for

expansion contributed towards reducing the cost of construction.

• The town modified its building code to Accommodate the plan for using concrete slabs which are faster and inexpensive to build on.

• The rate of production was almost 30 houses per day. • This is a good example of the city altering its regulations

for the betterment of community. In case of Windy Ridge, the City could acquire unfit houses and vacant homes for regeneration efforts like community center or parks.

Previous Page: 1951: American dream houses, all in a row By JON BLACKWELL / The TrentonianA Short Trip Inside and Outside the Box: Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion House (extended landscapes) 2011

77

• This suburb model compelled every user to invest time in the daily activities in and around their residence.

• Men took pride in maintaining their yard with their family and neighbors creating a strong bonding experience.

• Children could safely play on the front and back yards while their mothers could keep an eye on them from inside the house.

• The compact and modernized kitchen with top of the line built in appliances which made house work easier and took less space.

• There are few houses in Windy Ridge with proper backyards and only some of them are fenced while others are littered or unkempt forcing the kids to play on unsafe areas like sidewalks and streets.

The Levittown Historical Society’s History Of Levittown(1997) by Lynne Matarrese.

LEVITTOWN: PLANNING FOR EVERYONE

78

LEVITTOWN: COMMUNITY FEATURES • Shop-A-Rama, the huge shopping center in Levittown had 90

stores and created job opportunities for local teenagers and old residents.

• It also functioned as a community center where large gathering were organized like JFK and Nixon’s presidential campaign speech.

• Elementary, middle and high schools started developing in Levittown in mid 1950’s to serve the growing number of kids around the neighborhood.

• Elementary schools were planned at center of each master block so that no kid has to cross the street while walking.

• Five Olympic size swimming pools catered to the recreational activities of the community.

• Windy ridge is a racially diverse community with varied income and academic education level. There is no active homeowner’s association where residents could voice their opinions and demands or to socialize, this generates a need for a community space that is equipped to hold large and small gatherings where residents can meet, organize functions and celebrate events. This could help in forging strong bonds between the residents and motivate them to stay for a longer period of time.

Coming Home: Levittown, Revisited, By Joan Klatchko 2001 (observer Sunday magazine)The Levittown Historical Society’s History Of Levittown(1997) by Lynne Matarrese.

79

LEVITTOWN: THEN AND NOW • The only criticism faced by Levittown was the monotony of

the houses and navigation of identical streets. • Due to flexible bye laws, the residents have personalized

their homes and developed their unique contemporary identity which encourages them to stay there for a longer period of time.

• This provides a platform to rethink the design of existing houses in Windy Ridge which are all single story white vinyl sided with grey roofs. There could be a possibility to work with the residents for an addition/ alteration projects where the houses could be modified with inclusion of aesthetic and decorative elements.

• Several clubs societies have emerged within the community to cater to the diverse needs of its residents.

• The residents of Levittown have a strong attachment with the community which has motivated them to bring about changes within their neighborhood to suite their needs rather than moving to a different location.

Coming Home: Levittown, Revisited, By Joan Klatchko 2001 (observer Sunday magazine)

80

FORECLOSURE PRECEDENTS • A Structural Racism Lens on Subprime Foreclosure and Vacant Properties | Rick Cohen:

• “This is a very brief recounting of only some of the disparate racial outcomes of the subprime crisis and some potential solutions that could be considered that build on a structural racism analysis. To remove the racial and ethnic dimension of the subprime crisis and imagine that this is simply a housing markets problem, looking for a housing finance correction or solution, is to miss the potential power of a structural racism approach.”

• Informs the readers what to expect from owners when houses are foreclosed: a tenant may not be informed until evicted, and they have little or no protection from the lease.

• This might be a good informative read for Windy Ridge residents who don not know their rights in regards to foreclosed housing and what to do when their house is foreclosed.

Cohen, Rick. “A Structural Racism Lens on Subprime Foreclosures and Vacant Properties.” (2008). The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University and National Convening on Subprime Lending, Foreclosure and Race.

81

FORECLOSURE PRECEDENTS • Long Term Social Impacts and Financial Costs of Foreclosure on Families and Communities of

Color | James H. Carr and Katrin B. Anacker : • “Review of the literature on the long-term social impacts and financial costs of foreclosure

on families and communities of color. It discusses the impact of the foreclosure crisis and the Great Recession on (a) the wealth of families and communities of color,(b) the homeownership rate and home values of families and communities of color, (c) small business financing, and (d) the prospects for wealth building (including homeownership) for families and communities of color.”

• Graphs and tables show the breakdown of how recession hit different races: • “Many Black/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and select Asian groups have

experienced a catastrophic loss of wealth as a result of the foreclosure and economic crises” due to a concentration of assets versus diversifying them.

• It would be interesting to look at where Windy Ridge falls on the graphs to see if the neighborhood demographics help explain why the foreclosure hit as hard as it did.

• Vibrant Neighborhoods, Successful Schools |Margery Austin Turner and Alan Berube : • “This paper identifies four principles linking school quality with housing affordability and

neighborhood quality, and highlights important policy opportunities for the federal departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development.”

• Good explanation of what HUD should do (dealing with housing and neighborhoods),

Carr, James and Katrin Anacker. “Long Term Social Impacts and Financial Costs of Foreclosure on Families and Communities of Color: A Review of the Literature.” (2012). National Community Reinvestment Coalition.

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FORECLOSURE PRECEDENTS what DoED should do (dealing with schools), and what they should do together to get better outcomes for both housing and education.

• This study would help bolster a reason for getting organizations involved with Windy Ridge to create a stronger connection between the neighborhood and the public school system.

• The Cost-effectiveness of Community-based Foreclosure Prevention | Roberto G. Quercia, Spencer M. Cowan, Ana B. Moreno :

• “Examines the cost-effectiveness of community-based foreclosure prevention interventions using two proxy measures: time to resolution and the rate of recidivism. We examine these issues with data from over 4,200 borrowers who received intense case management, post-purchase counseling and/or assistance loans through the Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program in Minneapolis/Saint Paul.”

• Community-based foreclosure prevention services are cost effective and the paper also identifies “several borrower, loan and program factors that are associated with a shorter time to resolution, lower recidivism, and am overall higher likelihood of avoiding foreclosure.”

• This paper advocates for a preventative program that would be good for Windy Ridge due to the high foreclosure rate in the neighborhood.

Turner, Margery Austin and Alan Berube. “Vibrant Neighborhoods, Successful Schools.” (2009).Quercia, Roberto, Spencer Cowan, and Ana Moreno. “The Cost-effectiveness of Community-based Foreclosure Prevention.” (2005).

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FORECLOSURE PRECEDENTS • Community Response to the Foreclosure Crisis: Thoughts on Local Interventions | Dan

Immergluck : • “Lays out the range of responses to the foreclosure crisis in which local organizations have

been engaged in recent years, providing a scheme for thinking about local responses to the crisis and the actors and organizations involved. It is also intended to help groups identify where responses in their community might be expanded or strengthened.”

• This article might help Windy Ridge discover how to approach fixing their housing problems.

• The Impact of Foreclosures on Families and Communities |G. Thomas Kingsley, Robin Smith, and David Price:

• “This paper has three main sections: impacts on families, impacts on communities, and the foreclosure response system”

• It breaks down the impact on families: financial, stress, relationships • It breaks down impact of communities: variations, crime, social disorder, turnover, service

deterioration • It examines the type of policies and programs that address the findings from the family and

community inquires.

Immergluck, Dan. “Community Response to the Foreclosure Crisis: Thoughts on Local Interventions.” (2008). Rpt. in IURD Working Paper Series.Kingsley, Thomas, Robin Smith, and David Price. “The Impact of Foreclosures on Families and Communities.” (2009). Rpt. in The Open Society Institute. The Urban Istitute.

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FORECLOSURE PRECEDENTS

Immergluck, Dan. “The External Costs of Foreclosure: The Impact of Single‐family Mortgage Foreclosures on Property Values.” Housing Policy Debate 17.1 (2006): 57-79. Print.

• Finally, it looks forward with the “‘authors’ views on priorities for further research in these areas.”

• This article might be good for families to understand how the foreclosure crisis affect them to gain a better understanding of how they can move forward.

• The External Costs of Foreclosure: The Impact of Single Family Mortgage Foreclosures on Property Values |Dan Immergluck :

• “To measure the impact of foreclosures on nearby property values, we use a database that combines data on 1997 and 1998 foreclosures with data on neighborhood characteristics and more than 9,600 single family property transactions in Chicago in 1999. After controlling for some 40 characteristics of properties and their respective neighborhoods, we find that foreclosures of conventional single family (one to four unit) loans have a significant impact on nearby property values. Our most conservative estimates indicate that each conventional foreclosure within an eighth of a mile of a single family home results in a decline of 0.9 percent in value.”

• This article might help explain another reason why Todd Park residents are not happy with Windy Ridge, because their high rate of foreclosure has decreased their own property values.

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PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE PRECEDENT • The 1% program challenges architecture and design

firms nationwide to pledge a minimum of 1% of their time to pro bono service. The 1% connects firms willing to give of their time with nonprofit organizations in need of design assistance.

• Based on a 40-hour workweek, 1% represents a modest 20 hours per year per person. Were all 240,000 architecture professionals in the U.S. to sign on, the collective resources would be the equivalent of a 2,500-person firm (the largest in the world) working full-time for the public good, totaling an estimated 5,000,000 hours annually.

Public Architecture. http://www.publicarchitecture.org/The_1.htm

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THE 1% HABITAT INITIATIVE • Habitat for Humanity reached out to Public Architecture to explore how they could better

engage the design community to improve the design and construction process, and raise the sustainability standards for their 1500 affiliates across the country.

• The challenges that Habitat for Humanity affiliates typically face are: having no designers on staff and varying levels of design and construction expertise.

• They build within constrained budgets and rely on volunteer building labor, using residential plans that may have been simplified or modified over and over again. Homes today increasingly need to be designed for flexibility and accessibility as family sizes grow and more generations live under the same roof.

• Through the generous support of Formica and their commitment to advance the dialogue of sustainable affordable housing, the teams have been challenged to design and build a home that exceeds Habitat’s typical design and sustainability standards.

• Public Architecture and the participating architecture firms and Habitat affiliates share these three primary objectives:

• Projects must be aesthetically successful, durable and low maintenance in addition to being a valuable addition to their local context.

• The plans should provide affiliates with a sustainability knowledge base and use strategies such as documentation of specifications and installation details to demonstrate how to maximize features and systems appropriate for volunteer-builder skill levels.

• Each home must exhibit innovation and design excellence to inspire the design community to become more engaged in working with Habitat and the broader affordable housing community.

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THE 1% HABITAT INITIATIVE • By using this model, we could begin a dialogue between Habitat

for Humanity, local architecture firms and Public Architecture to begin a partnership that works for Windy Ridge, with the goal of well designed, affordable, and sustainably driven houses for the community.

Previous Page: Public Architecture: Design: The 1% Habitat Initiative.http://www.publicarchitecture.org/design/the_1_habitat_initiative.htm

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WORK FOR RENT PRECEDENT • City Heights, San Diego California

• The City Heights initiative of Price Charities is a revitalization effort that has been underway in San Diego since 2000. The City Heights neighborhood is similar to Windy Ridge in its history of poverty and crime, but the area differs in that it is larger and more connected with the greater San Diego area. While City Height’s physical structure and surroundings differ drastically from Windy Ridge, the development and financing schemes put in place by Price Charities could be applied to Windy Ridge.

• In City Heights, initially half of the residences in the Village Townhomes development of City Heights were reserved for people that make an income that is less than half of the median area income; that reservation has fallen to approximately 30%. In this situation the work-for-rent program pays $12/hour in the form of reduced rent, and the amount residents can volunteer is limited to 17-32 hours a month, depending on the cost of their rent.

• This initiative is similar to the Habitat model of sweat equity, but focuses more on community efforts rather than individual houses. The Habitat for Humanity organization has praised the City Heights development. Unfortunately programs such as this work-for-rent structure require monetary contributions from a benefactor. In the Case of City Heights, these contributions were made by Sol Price. It could be possible for Windy Ridge to find a benefactor in the Charlotte area.

Pierce, Emmet. “Home work: Community service reduces residents’ rent in City Heights Program” (2003). San Diego Union-TribuneCity Heights Initiative | Housing & Office Space. Price Charities. 2011. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.

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• One form of collaborative and communal living that the team explored is found in Israel and is known as a kibbutz.

• The first kibbutz was established in 1909 and was based around agriculture. Furthermore, its a socioeconomic system based on the principle of joint ownership of property, equality and cooperation of production, consumption and education; the fulfillment of the idea “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”; a home for those who have chosen it.

• There are three different models of kibbutzim that have been tested: • “New Kibbutz” Privatization Model- the most popular form in Israel today, replaces the

budget with regular salaries from work and other income sources specific to each individual member. It also provides a safety net for health insurance, pensions, education and supporting members with special needs.

• Communally Run Kibbutz- a model where there is no relationship between the work a member carries out and the budget he or she recieves; everyone is paid the same amount.

• Integrated Kibbutzim- combines a basic budget equally distributed among all members along with a percentage of each member’s salary.

• While the privatized model is popular today, the model has recieved some criticism because there are inevitably some that benefit from the change in salary and some that are harmed. Some kibbutzim that had previously worked from a privatized model, have reverted back to the traditional communal model.

Rubenstein, Amnon, “Return of the Kibbutzim,”The Jerusalem Post, (July 10, 2007). Ashkenazi, Eli, “After 100 Years, the Kibbutzim Movement has Completely Changed.” Haaretz (January 7, 2010).

KIBBUTZ MODEL PRECEDENT

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• Kibbutzim are sustainable communities that provide opportunities for work within the neighborhood for residents.

• The team was unable to find examples of kibbutzim that have been established in the United States, but there may be general concepts that we could utilize in Windy Ridge.

• Some jobs that could be made available in Windy Ridge are for a communal garden, a daycare facility, and a basic home and vehicle repair shop.

• Depending on the types of funding, Windy Ridge residents could form a more environmentally sustainable and community focused neighborhood using concepts from Israel’s kibbutzim.

KIBBUTZ MODEL: CONSIDERATIONS FOR WINDY RIDGE

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• A Community Advisory Committee is the first step toward forming a Neighborhood Association in Windy Ridge. • UNCC students should be the initiators along with the City. • Since Eminent Domain is one of the revitalization strategy, City’s presence is very important and beneficial.

• Case study - University led neighborhood revitalization in Buffalo, New York:

• Daemon College’s Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement runs multiple programs with the City of Buffalo.

• The Adivsory Board is run by professional staff and has 23 members including residents of the neighborhood, representatives from local businesses and organizations such as LISC, Fannie Mae, Greater Buffalo Savings Bank, and local community development corporations.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE• The largest scale initiative is the Fruit Belt Partnership, which raised money through HUD and private donors to help foster a continued education partnership between the College and local entities, as well as collaborate with a national non-profit that develops playgrounds for inner-city neighborhoods.

• Continued involvement by the students on an on-going and annual basis creates mutual good will, awareness and civic improvement.

• Our own university’s continual engagement in City’s few distressed neighborhoods has vastly benefitted the neighborhoods.

• The above precedent is to show the successful formation of Advisory Committe led by University and City involving the neighborhood residents and helping neighborhood revitalization.

Source: Community Engagement / Integration With Curriculum - Daemon Collegehttp://www.development-concepts.com/blog/2010/06/case-studies-in-university-led-neighborhood-revitalization/

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NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION• The Advisory Committe after multiple meetings and outlining several strategies would meet with the neighborhood.

• Once the entire neighborhood is involved, apart from the Advisory Committee, a Neighborhood Organization has to be created.

• Existing HoA members and interested residents, Stake Holders, Youth representatives, Local School, Church, Local Political leaders, Habitat for Humanity and Todd Park representatives should be part of the group.

• Neighborhood Organization can be from the basic three organizational models:

• Charitable Organization• Non-Profit Incorporated Organization• Tax Exempt Organization - 501 (c)(3) The IRS Web site at www.irs.gov has information about tax exempt organizations.

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NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION• A meeting time and place has to established and a well planned agenda has to be developed for each meeting. The first meeting should discuss:

• Determine the boundaries of the neighborhood. • Develop a complete list of neighborhood residents. • Discuss each person’s ideas concerning the problems and needs of the neighborhood.• Discuss goals, projects and concerns.• Discuss strategies to achieve common goals. • Identify current and potential leaders. • Determine special skills, talents and willingness to participate. • Determine a convenient time and location for members to attend meetings.• Determine how frequently members would like to meet.• The Neighborhood Association should continue to meet with the Advisory Committee.

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BLIGHTED SPOT EMINENT DOMAIN• Eminent Domain is a critical tool for revitalizing cities and improving the quality of life in neighborhoods. The careful use of Eminent Domain has been successful in revitalization of many projects accross the country.

• Appropriate compensation should be made to owners for the value of properties acquired by the government in accordance to NC’s General Statutes - Chapter 40A: Eminent Domain.

• The public purposes to be served and specific public benefits expected from the proposed Community center should be documented in a redevelopment plan.

• City and developers if any should take care to involve residents, property owners and business owners in redevelopment area.

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BLIGHTED SPOT EMINENT DOMAIN• Case Study - The Freetown neighborhood in Greenville, South Carolina:

• Developed in the 1880s as a haven for freed slaves, the decaying housing and junk-strewn lots was replaced with 80 affordable new homes, ten rehabilitated residences, a new community center, and upgraded neighborhood infrastructure.

• The Greenville County Redevelopment Authority accomplished all this by acquiring blighted properties in order to assemble buildable sites fornew homes.

• The authority used eminent domain to acquire two holdout properties and to clear titles for abandoned and tax-delinquent properties.

• In 2006, it completed carefully phased redevelopment activities with the successful return of more than one-third of the displaced households to the Freetown community.

Freetown Community Center, Greenville, SCPhotographs: http://greenvillerec.com/parks/freetown

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COLLABORATIVE HOUSING• Housing with common spaces and shared facilities oriented towards collaboration among residents (Vestbro 2010)

Some of the Cohousing Organizations in USA

Saving by Sharing – Collective Housing for Sustainable Lifestyles in the Swedish Context by Dick Urban Vestbro (2012)

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COLLABORATIVE HOUSINGNeed for collaborative housing in Windy Ridge

• The conclusion derived from study undertaken in Phase I exhibits that Windy Ridge faces more urgent social challenges than physical design issues.• The existing social quandary is attributed to the lack of strong interrelations of residents within and around the neighborhood where dweller reflect limited attachment to their home and consider them as transition or intermediate place to stay.• Cohousing focuses on facilitating behavioral change through community cooperation and this proves to be a strong logical step in addressing the deteriorating quality of life of the community.


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COLLABORATIVE HOUSINGCharacteristics of Cohousing

• Cohousing distinguishes itself from other housing modules in certain aspects providing a fresh approch to slove the growing affordable housing demands.• The future residents participate in the design process from initial concept level to gain a better understaning of the planning of the community and also to establish a organization which creates and maintains the work responsibilities of the residents, manage events and regulates policy& codes for the neighborhood.• The dwelling units are usually designed along open spaces usually facing each other across a street or courtyard which serves as a playground or a garden. The community center houses activities like a huge dining hall, meeting place, common kitchen and workshop.• There is Non-hierarchical structure within the organization which is composed of the residents and disputes are mostly resolved by consensus, voting is seldom used and is concieved as the last resort.

Information provided on the website of Cohousing- www.cohousing.org

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COLLABORATIVE HOUSING

Precedent Study of Sweden Cohouse(Stockholm 1980)

• This community has typically 20-50 units.• The common spaces contitute 5% of total dwelling space

whereas it usually takes up 10% in general housing unit.• A typical single unit has a small kitchentte and no dining

room.• 4 days of 7 are common dinning days where food is

prepared by one of the five teams of 9-10 residents which rotates everyday. This team is responsible for shopping, setting up the table and washing dishes.

• That means a member just has to cook once for every 10 meals he has collaborately.

• house meetings takes place quarterly and there are few social clubs including book club and cultural programs.


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Ground floor of Cohousing, built in 1983 by the municipal housing company in Sewden. Legend: 2. Dining room, 3. Kitchen, 4. Laundry, 5. Ceramics workshop, 6. Photo lab, 7. Sauna, 8. Relax room, 9. Com-mon spaces such as child-ren’s play room, workshop, office (later TV room), 10. Day-care centre (run by the municipality), 11. Storage.


Precedent Study of Tullstugan Cohouse(Stockholm 1980)

• The Common rooms have internal glass walls along the transition spaces to enable the residents to view the activities going on and reflect a non-private space like configuration.

• The care of kids and seniors can be transferred to the communal spaces without worrying about their saety.

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Scope of cohousing for Windy Ridge

• The socially, economically and racially diverse community of Windy Ridge will prove to be a tough challange for drastic alteration but by breaking down this process of cohousing into small parts will help to understand the residents acceptability and also contribute towards tackling minor setbacks.

• The existing module of Windy Ridge does not allow for Cohousing to be included in the orignal format as the residents should be involved before the construction phase has started.

• There is an opportunity for developing cohousing ‘phase wise’ by allocating 20-30 houses for the project and initaite development process.

• The next step for our group is to focus on contacting the Cohousing organizations and discuss the implications of this type of housing in existing conditions.

• Identify the ideal areas within Windy Ridge for commencing the first pahse of cohousing and developing a timeline for future phases.
