Mixed-Use Development
A successful mixed-use development project often finds a balance between many competing project goals, creating a robust and resilient economic, environmental and social convergence. It provides accessible and walkable communities for residents, reducing the need for private vehicles, encouraging social connections, and providing a healthy and engaging natural environment.
We approach the planning and design of mixed-use development from multiple, overlapping perspectives to ensure we meet all our client’s goals.
At the Nadi Group, the type of mixed-use development we usually design for includes a mix of retail, residential, and office uses. However, we’ve also explored mixed use within the context of public transportation: transit-oriented development (TOD) and community hubs and gathering places.
A well-designed, sustainable mixed-use development provides accessible and walkable communities for residents, reducing the need for private vehicles, encouraging social connections, and providing a healthy and engaging natural environment.
Our goal is to make the process (and the final product) as elegant, efficient, financially viable and environmentally responsible as possible, adding long-term value to our clients' projects.
What is Mixed-Use Development?
As an urban design concept, mixed-use development (sometimes referred to as mixed-use zoning or mixed-use planning) combines residential, commercial, cultural, and institutional uses into a single building, area or space.
Mixed-use developments provide developers, residents and tenants with more options within a condensed area, including multi-family residential and commercial zoning opportunities.
Zoning Protocols for Mixed-Use Areas
Zoning protocols for mixed-use areas include traditional subdivisions, urban or downtown CBDs (central business districts), PUDs or Planned Unit Developments, or other special designations.
The Atlanta Regional Commission does an outstanding job of outlining the necessary criteria that every successful mixed-use development should meet:
Trends in Mixed-Use Development
In terms of food, beverage and retail spaces in mixed-use developments, there is likely to be a shift to locally produced goods and services, where people can walk to conveniences and congregate around local activities.
Community markets and gardens are also part of the movement towards creating more self-sustaining, organic consumerism within a walkable community.
What are the Benefits of Mixed-Use Development?
A successful mixed-use project considers many factors, including transportation, employment, residential and environmental to create a more holistic space for living, working and playing. According to the American Planning Association, a mixed-use development should provide communities, cities and towns with:
Adaptive Reuse in Mixed-Use Development
Even though many new urban developments will prioritize mixed-use design, planning, and zoning, buildings and spaces that already exist can also benefit from this approach.
Adaptive reuse is an environmentally responsible alternative to demolition and replacement. It transforms an existing space with new commercial and/or residential opportunities, reduces our carbon footprint, and gives buildings a second life to preserve their history while bringing it into the future.
Why should you hire the Nadi Group for mixed-use design services?
We love the feel of a mixed-use development done right. All mixed-use development projects are unique and distinct. With over three decades of global experience (across Asia, West Africa and North America), the senior associates at Nadi Group understand that there’s never been a project quite like yours.
Our diverse and international experience means we are REALLY particular about creating the right combination of uses, blending environmental, social and economic drivers to create your unique mixed-use cocktail.
FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the process, timeline, and requirements for mixed-use development projects.
Development projects may be classified as "mixed-use" if they provide more than one use or purpose within a shared building or development area. Mixed-use projects may include any combination of housing, office, retail, medical, recreational, commercial or industrial components.
Some of the challenges include navigating zoning and regulatory hurdles; creating the right balance of uses; planning and implementing appropriate infrastructure and transportation solutions; creating the right design and aesthetics; planning for parking and accessibility; community engagement; putting together the right financing and delivering an acceptable ROI; as well as property management (to name a few).
During the research and investigation phases of many projects, we ensure that we have a deep understanding of community level input.There are often oposing perspectives on what is appropriate, thus we may host 'town-halls', open houses, use digital/web based surveys, or apply other tools, to ensure early community integration.
Nadi Group has worked at the local, municipal, county, state/provincial levels on garnishing support for mixed-use projects, whether they are mixed-use subdivisions, PUDs, or other form of development.
Nadi Group has experience in developing mixed-use proformas that assist our clients in understanding the financials of the project. We also have relationships with various institutional and private financial institutions and often provide referrals for our clients.
During the design phasing of our mixed-use projects, we often facilitate stakeholder workshops where all stakeholders are able to identify and prioritize their individual project goals, ultimately allowing the design process deliver the optimum blend of priorities for a 'win-win' outcome.
Client Testimonials
Hear directly from those who have partnered with the Nadi Group and see the impact of our expertise on their projects.
Let’s Co-Create an Amazing Mixed-Use Development Together
