Case Study: Near Northside Workshop
Session: Inner City Economic Development
April 15, 4:00 PM
Michael Kwartler, FAIA
Roy Chan
Environmental Simulation Center
During the Summer of 2001, the Near Northside Neighborhood went through a community visioning process to define its future planning objectives as well as determine a set of urban design guidelines. With support and guidance from the City of Houston Department of Planning, and consultants such as Webb Architects and the Environmental Simulation Center (ESC), the Near Northside Steering Community worked through a series of design workshops, and came up with six neighborhood themes of significance to the neighborhood (Walkability, Pedestrian Friendly, Neighborhood-Scale Retail, Housing, Connections, and Landscaping/ Trees). However, by early Fall, the identity of the neighborhood and design objectives had yet to be fully agreed upon and articulated by the Steering Committee.
On October 18, 2001, Michael Kwartler and Roy Chan of the ESC, prepared and conducted a participatory design workshop geared toward reaching consensus on the identity of Houston’s Near Northside. This identity shall set the framework for the neighborhood’s urban design guidelines. The workshop focused on design objectives (Concentrating Activities, Connecting Activities, and Compatible Activities) conceived from a set of narratives that community members were asked to write based on their daily life experience with the neighborhood. In addition, the workshop utilized a set of comparative images taken from a 3D model of the commercial corridor created by the ESC to highlight the implications associated with the defined objectives.
The 3D images effectively facilitated discussions on a number of design implications such as scale, parking, mobility, safety, crime, convenience, pleasurable walking experience, and impacts to the adjacent residential area. The workshop concluded with two fundamental identity choices: a neighborhood that serves the pedestrian or one that serves the vehicle. The community participants unanimously chose the ‘pedestrian’ identity but with the understanding that vehicular access issues should continue to be addressed thoughtfully and creatively. The defined identity, issues raised, and imagery used in the workshop will be incorporated into the urban design guidelines for the future planning and development of the Near Northside. This set of urban design guidelines will accompany findings by Social Compact on the economic study/ buying power of this neighborhood.