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Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - The participatory nature of charrette planning will be in full effect today as local commissioners, planning board members, fire fighters, DOT officials, and safety and public works representatives arrive at the design studio for a series of collaborative meetings.
The goal is common ground, where the interrelated nature of town planning becomes clear. Emergency vehicles, for instance, prefer wider streets while modest street widths increase pedestrian safety by slowing cars down. By coming together with the design team, respective specialists can seek solutions that serve both ends.
The meetings will follow Tuesday's full day of research and orientation, where developer Herb Freeman told his planning team how he became determined to bring Traditional Neighborhood Development to Omaha. "I'm convinced there's a large segment of people in Omaha who want this but don't yet know it," said Herb. "All the research I've seen suggests that as many as 30 percent of potential buyers would purchase homes in traditional neighborhood developments if they had the chance. I'm willing to let other developers compete for the 70 percent. I'll focus on reaching that unserved 30 percent. If I can do that, this will be a fabulously successful project."
With intensive research in TND approaches under his belt, as well as visits to some classic built examples, Herb figures he may be able to improve on the form. "It's not enough to have a walkable neighborhood," said Herb. "I want to have lots of destinations that are worth walking to."
Because pedestrian destinations are a challenge in automobile-oriented suburbs, Herb thinks his new community must make a special effort to create special places within its boundaries. So he's asking the design team to plan for greens, parks, fountains, gazebos, and other casual gathering places.
The other occasional TND misstep, according to Herb, is "to include too many diverse architectural styles that fight one another" in the overall design of a community.
Bill Dennis, who heads the charrette design team and has participated in the planning of some 130 TNDs, agreed with Herb. "The key," said Bill, "is to create an immersive architectural environment" in which style variations are complementary.
Sample architectural approaches will emerge from the team of designers beginning Thursday. "I think people will love it once they see it," said Herb.
The day progressed as the design team reviewed topographic maps, examined architectural precedents and toured historic neighborhoods throughout Omaha, ultimately ending up onsite at the Freeman property.
With its rising slope and dramatic native grass ascending to a striking Federalist-style home, the site proved worthy fodder for designers seeking inspiration.
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 Take a tour of the Freeman property
View scenes from
the studio.
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Architecture
