Question 4

Q: In your role as an urban problem solver, could you tell us about a particularly challenging problem you encountered in a project and the innovative approach you took to overcome it?

A: The recurring dilemma faced with almost every suburban master plan is the balance between density and financial feasibility. In many instances, the rents the market can support do not cover the cost of complex high density housing and the structured parking it requires. In the instance of the District at Latimer Square in Bloomington, Indiana, by consolidating the resident parking in a free-standing cost efficient garage, and lowering the number of parking spaces per unit, the developer was able to deliver 340 units of housing on 7 acres, of which 4 acres were landscaped with parks, paseos, and courtyards. The simplicity of the garage allowed lower costs per parking space, and lower costs in the construction of the four story apartment buildings. The project recently opened, providing much needed relief to Bloomington’s housing shortage.