How Mixed Neighbourhood Development Can Improve Street Safety

Introduction

The growing migrant population and urban sprawl have made mixed-use communities an efficient means of managing these issues. This sustainable development strategy addresses the issue of urban sprawl and, more crucially, could provide safety for the community.

An example graphic represents the Mixed-Use community – Saxonvale, M (n.d.)

The safety of the community

In urban life, community safety has always been regarded as crucial. While some argue that gated communities can also foster safety, Hillier & Hanson (1984) found that gated communities can increase social disputes. As a result, it is thought that the idea of mixed land use in a community works better to create a safer atmosphere than gated communities (Oc & Tiesdell, 1997). In contrast to traditional neighbourhoods, mixed-use communities feature well-designed, functional buildings and vibrant street life. Additionally, because of its mixed-use, the area can feel more secure because it brings in a variety of people throughout the day. Dovey (2016) points out that a single area can result in a single rhythmic life, which can cause peak and downturn moments on the street. The risk of empty streets arises when crowds leave during the downturn periods. As a result, these mixed-use developments, including retail, residential, and office buildings, create a sense of security over one another while also boosting liveliness and safety. As noted by Jacobs (1961), “public street spaces have eyes on them as continuously as possible”. This is why mixed-use neighbourhoods can enhance pedestrian traffic and contribute to promoting a safer environment.At the same time, this safe environment encourages more seniors and children to walk to and from school, which benefits their health.

1221 Broadway Precedent (San Antonio, United States)

One successful example of a mixed neighbourhood is 1221 Broadway, which was once a derelict industrial and residential building but was rehabilitated and transformed owing to its position with the inclusion of businesses, retail spaces, and courtyards. These stores serve as communal open spaces, encouraging residents and the general public to use them, whereas the courtyard acts as a core landscape for community activity while also attracting outside visitors (Friedman, 2017). It is clear that 1221 Broadway is successful in that its continuous retail space on the street promotes mutual guardianship and continuous surveillance from visitors, whereas the open courtyard to the outside serves as a residential space that not only serves the community’s residents but also attracts visitors from outside, resulting in a different flow of people throughout the day. Thus, this mixed-mode community draws a varied range of people and boosts liveliness on the streets and in the houses. After the renovations, a once-dangerous and avoided area has become a well-liked and safe walking area. Additionally, it has been steadily developed to create unbroken streets that offer a good environment for walking with the assistance of the community.

Retail stores underneath the apartment provide street surveillance – www.har.com. (n.d.)

Conclusion

In summary, a mixed-use community creates a diverse range of building types and draws a diverse range of visitors while also offering safe neighbourhood surveillance all the time and a high-quality pedestrian environment.

Reference

Dovey, K. (2016). Urban design thinking: a conceptual toolkit. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Friedman, A. (2017). Designing sustainable communities. London; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Academic, An Imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Hanson, J., & Hillier, B. (1987). The architecture of community: Some new proposals on the social consequences of architectural and planning decisions. Architecture and Behaviour, 3(3), 251–273.

Jacobs J. 1961. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. London, UK: Jonathon Cope.

Oc T., Tiesdell S., 1997, Safer City Centres-Reviving the Public Realm, London: Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd.

Saxonvale, M (n.d.). Central Mixed Use Quarter. [online] Available at: https://maydaysaxonvale.co.uk/masterplan/central-mixed-use-quarter/ [Accessed 23 Mar. 2024].

www.har.com. (n.d.). 1221 Lofts. [online] Available at: https://www.har.com/1221-lofts/highrise_1050 [Accessed 30 Mar. 2024].