Jobs, Housing & Smart Community - Neighborhood Infrastructures
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Neighborhood Infrastructures
Jobs, Housing & Smart Community
In order to develop a healthy, choice, economically competitive, and sustainable
neighborhood, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
recommends a ratio of 1.5 jobs per 1 housing unit that are accessible by foot,
bike, or mass transit. This jobs/housing balance helps create a mixed-use
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greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by decreasing the total number of
vehicle miles travelled. Economic empowerment and the social equity of
residents and employees increases by reducing annual transportation costs,
thereby increasing real wealth and buying power. In addition, locating jobs in
areas that are well-served by public transit improves equity and access for
employees and creates jobs that are regionally accessible. Smart community
infrastructure, including increased high-speed internet access, supports jobs
expansion and access to technology and information and will make Parkview
Gardens poised to lead the region in housing and economic development.
5.0 | Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan: Jobs, Housing & Smart Community | 175
Overview: Jobs, Housing & Smart Community
Smart Community Infrastructure
“Smart Communities” refer to communities that make a conscious effort to use
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and fundamental, rather the incremental, ways. Smart Community initiatives
advance economic and social sustainability by attracting high-tech, “high-
bandwidth” business and industry that relies on data connectivity; facilitating
small business growth and start-ups; providing “connected” institutions and
communities; and enhancing equal access to jobs and educational resources
for the most economically disadvantaged residents. Smart Community
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to businesses and institutions, broadband connections to residences, and
publicly accessible wireless internet service.
Job Searching
Jobs & Housing
The recommended balance of 1.5 jobs per 1 housing unit is possible in and
around Parkview Gardens when considering the underdeveloped space at
the edges of the neighborhood and the opportunities for continued housing
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and housing accessible by walking, biking, or mass transit can make Parkview
Gardens a premiere regional destination for residential and employment
opportunities, contributing to the social and economic diversity and vibrancy
in the neighborhood.
Parks & Public Space
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community infrastructure and commercial and housing development.
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neighborhood needing access to public spaces and parks to create a vibrant
and active neighborhood. Fiber-optic infrastructure will create internet
access in parks and public spaces, allowing for new uses, easier access to
information, and a more connected and communicative neighborhood. Putting
the newest technologies in the heart of Parkview Gardens public spaces and
making them accessible to businesses and residents will support continued
social and economic development.
176 | Draft Parkview Gardens Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan
Jobs, Housing & Smart Community
Smart Community Infrastructure
Jobs & Housing
Parks & Public Space
5.0 | Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan: Jobs, Housing & Smart Community | 177
Smart Community Infrastructure
Existing Fiber-Optic Infrastructure (Figure 21.2)
Figure 21.1
Existing Free (with purchase at venue) Wireless Analysis of Existing Conditions
Internet (Figure 21.3) The St. Louis Cloud Coalition, a committee composed of an advisory board
of colleagues from around the world involved in the development of Smarter
Cities – Smart and Connected Communities (http://www.cloudcoalition.org/),
is currently developing an Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
master plan for the community along The Loop Trolley right of way, utilizing a
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upon the creative arts, entertainment, research and educational strengths of
the Loop business district, and designed as an environment where creative
talents will live, work and play synergistically, the Loop Media Hub ICT plan
will create high value jobs while contributing to the economic vitality of the
Loop community.
Recommendations
The proposed ICT plan includes recommendations for ultra-Gigabit
connectivity; energy conservation; media and social networking capabilities;
smart phone and tablet apps; and a funding program for Internet media
entrepreneurs, marketing, and sustainability. In addition, the plan would
include economic development incentives for organizations and properties
residing along The Loop Media Hub district. Current stakeholders include
The City of University City, Washington University in St. Louis, The Regional
Arts Commission, The Center of Creative Arts, The University City Chamber
of Commerce and The St. Louis Development Corporation. In addition to
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Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan recommends the installation
of a secondary line along North Skinker Boulevard, to be coordinated with
178 | Draft Parkview Gardens Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan
proposed right-of-way improvements. This will help facilitate the development
of Washington University North Campus, Cunningham Business Park, and
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recommends the implementation of residential connections into the Parkview
Gardens neighborhood and outdoor wireless internet routers, providing Wi-Fi
connectivity to the entire Parkview Gardens community. Figure 21.1 shows
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Skinker Boulevard, and in the alleys of the residential neighborhood. Fiber-
optic infrastructure already exists along the MetroLink route. In the proposed
phasing, infrastructure will serve the buildings directly adjacent to the Loop
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Skinker Boulevard to serve the buildings along the Skinker Corridor. The third
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Outdoor festival Public Wi-Fi Community computer laboratory
Outdoor internet access Wireless tower Smartphone connections
5.0 | Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan: Jobs, Housing & Smart Community | 179
Jobs & Housing
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Figure 22.1
Existing Area of Commercial/Industrial (Figure 22.3)
Analysis of Existing Conditions
Assessing the market and the physical characteristics of the neighborhood
are important for understanding the potential for a future jobs housing
balance. There is somewhat limited market demand for new commercial and
retail space in the Parkview Gardens neighborhood. Off of Delmar Boulevard,
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of existing outdated commercial space. This is due to the fact that commercial
rents along Delmar have not yet reached the point where they are pricing
tenants out and driving them to adjacent commercial districts. Assuming that
rental rates along Olive Boulevard can be kept at $15 per square foot (making
Primary Job/Employment Areas: The Skinker
corridor and the North Campus areas are the major
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opportunities for commercial/job development in the mechanisms), 25,000 to 40,000 square feet of retail are deemed supportable
neighborhood. (Figure 22.4) in that corridor over a 15-year time frame.
The physical space devoted to primarily commercial development is currently
162 acres and includes the Loop (28.4 acres), North Campus (28.4 acres),
west Skinker (12.95 acres), and the existing Cunningham Business Park
(90.8 acres). This is equivalent to the entire neighborhood study area (Figure
22.2, 22.3). The primary areas for future commercial/jobs development in the
neighborhood can support the proposed job density if developed according to
the regulatory code.
The remaining area devoted to housing accounts for 120.5 acres and the
existing residential core has a density of 25 units per acre.
Existing housing types include multifamily apartment housing, single family
homes, and some condominiums. Types of jobs currently in the neighborhood
consist largely of service-oriented jobs in retail or small commercial businesses,
most located in the Loop. Olive Boulevard and Cunningham Business Park
are home to light industrial businesses.
180 | Draft Parkview Gardens Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan
Recommendations
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38,000 square foot grocery store. This level of commercial development along
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University-Commissioned Delmar Loop Retail Study, with which this Plan was
closely coordinated. Figure 22.1 depicts the distribution of jobs and housing in
the neighborhood. Blue denotes the buildings and parcels dedicated primary
to jobs development, while buildings primarily dedicated to housing are in
white.
Additionally, the North Skinker Corridor seems ripe for the development of
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North Campus (east of Skinker) and the eastern edge of Parkview Gardens
on the west side of Skinker Boulevard comprise approximately 45.5 acres of
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research & development facilities. However, there is little latent demand for
this market today, and it will likely require a subsidy or investment from a major
institution to be initially feasible. (Figure 22.4)
Housing recommendations are detailed in Compact and Car Optional
Development on page 131.
One opportunity that can be capitalized on to ‘prime the pump’ for this
development is the implementation of new Smart Community infrastructure.
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wireless hot spots, Smart Community infrastructure is an investment that
University City can make in the Parkview Gardens neighborhood to incentivize
the development and/or relocation of high-tech industries and businesses
that rely on high-speed data access. The St. Louis Cloud Coalition is a local
organization that is planning a Loop Data Hub to be implemented along Delmar
Boulevard as part of the Loop Trolley construction project. By installing this
infrastructure in conjunction with the installation of the trolley tracks, University
City can attract an emerging business market to the Parkview Gardens
neighborhood. This will help Parkview Gardens achieve an ideal jobs/housing
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a critical but often elusive component of long-term community sustainability.
5.0 | Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan: Jobs, Housing & Smart Community | 181
Parks & Public Space
Existing Parks (Figure 23.2)
Figure 23.1
Existing free (with purchase at venue) wireless Analysis of Existing Conditions
internet (Figure 23.3) Currently, none of the parks or public spaces in Parkview Gardens have
wireless internet access (Figure 23.2). Wireless internet access is only for
patrons of restaurants or shops along the Loop (Figure 23.3) and individual
residents can get internet access installed in their homes on an individual
basis. Also, the public library provides internet access.
Recommendations
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available on all along Loop on sidewalks and public spaces. Upon further
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provided along the Skinker corridor and in Metcalfe, Ackert, Eastgate South,
and Eastgate North parks to enhance usability and versatility of activities in
public parks and plazas. The green areas in Figure 23.1 denote parks and
public plazas and the red area highlights the Delmar Loop.
182 | Draft Parkview Gardens Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan
Existing intersection of Ackert Walkway at Vernon Avenue
Proposed view of Ackert Walkway at Vernon Avenue
5.0 | Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan: Jobs, Housing & Smart Community | 183
Jobs, Housing & Smart Community
Summary Diagram
The diagrams below and to the right show how smart community infrastructure
supports a diversity of jobs and housing in the neighborhood.
In the diagram to the right, orange lines represent social/equitable synergies,
green lines represent environmental synergies, and blue lines represent
economic synergies.
The section is a representation of Parkview
Gardens and is not to scale.
Arts, Culture &
Education
Institutions
smart community infrastructure
Fiber-optics constructed with Loop Trolley
serves civic complex
Alternative
Parking
R.A.C. M
O
rry Hill
Bluebe O
N
R
Farmer
s I
T Marke
t S
I E
V
O Public Art
L
I
University City Community
Lions Gates Landmarks Loop Trolley The Loop
Civic Complex Gardens Ackert
Restaurants Bike Infrastructure Walkway
184 | Draft Parkview Gardens Neighborhood Sustainable Development PlanAccess to regional job and housing centers
Green & Neighborhood Mixed-Use Dev.
White Roofs Streets
Smart Community
Urban Forest Infrastructure
Create WiFi hot
Renewable Energy
Supports high-tech
spots in parks & jobs, research,
public spaces and creative jobs
development
Green Medians, Grocery Store
Parks & Public Space Housing Affordable North Campus MetroLink
Green Alleys & Housing
Permeable Paving District Energy
Skinker Corridor
Diverse housing opportunities to sync with diversity of job types and opportunities Enhanced communication,
productivity and information
Integrated with all access in residences Jobs, Mixed-use, tech, research, and creative jobs corridor
housing development
to support social,
economic, and jobs
diversity
5.0 | Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan: Jobs, Housing & Smart Community | 185186 | Draft Parkview Gardens Neighborhood Sustainable Development Plan
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