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What does 200 units per acre look like?
Fri, 2005-11-18 21:16 — joemoraca
Pelican Press has an article on the latest effort for increased density as a way to build workforce housing City takes 'huge step' toward affordable housing this happened at the last city commission meeting ... I saw the discussion on TV 19.
The product of a series of meetings between the city's planning staff, Tony Souza of the Downtown Partnership, City Manager Mike McNees and Mayor Mary Anne Servian, the plan will "take a year off the usual timeframe" of getting approval on the comprehensive plan changes needed for the project, according to Servian. She added it's a huge step toward getting some affordable housing downtown.
Exactly what is affordable, attainable, work force or whatever you choose to call the housing, wasn't revealed. But Souza told the commission his group is recommending it apply to salaries of between $44,000 and $67,000 a year.
In a statement passed out to commissioners only, but later obtained by the press, the Downtown Partnership also recommended increasing density in the downtown core from 50 to 200 units per acre. Downtown Edge neighborhoods should increase density from 25 to 100 units per acre, the partnership’s recommendation added.
Perhaps we need more details of how this increased density would be approved? Surely it would have lots of "strings" attached. We need to review The Architecture of Affordable Housing.
The Touriel Building in Berkeley CA developed by Panoramic Interests is 35 apartments on a 7,000 sq lot -- density 218 units / acre.
Los Angles has some pictures of 80-100 du / ac (dwelling units / acre) seems the Maximum Density for Multi - Family Residential (Zone R5) in LA is 217 du/ac
Another link to the Demystifying Density Lecture Series has powerpoint and video lectures on increased density ... Lecture #2 Part 7 is the highest density ..
122 du / acre in 5 floors (without parking) or Eden House / Promise Place in Washington DC is 7 floors and about 100 du / acre with commercial on the ground floor.
230 du / acre (mostly very small) in a new building in Chicago 8 floors L - shaped building that leaves lots of green space.
From the funders network for smart growth a very good presentation with good pictures.
Comments
Affordable Units
The Touriel Bldg shown would have apartments averaging less than 800 sq ft. It looks like four stories above the ground level (parking & retail?), so 7000 sq ft per story, 4 stories, and 35 units, gives 800 sq ft per unit. The link indicates some units are two bedroom and some are one bedroom.
While the unit size is modest, the height on the building is also modest.
Small units may not accommodate families with one or more children. But for singles or couples, these could be very adequate.
The link also indicates that rents are modest.
Something like this near downtown Sarasota would be great.