Suburban Center — Design Elements
Example Scenario
In this Suburban Center scenario, parking lots flanking a driveway into a shopping center have been redeveloped with mixed-use buildings, creating an appealing, walkable streetscape that leads to a regional trail.
New development in Suburban Centers should create a balanced transportation system that incorporates effective vehicular, pedestrian, transit, and bicycle access. Developments should also include the following design elements:
Building Character
- Variations in building facades, rooflines, and shape to reduce the visual impact of large-scale buildings
- Multi-story buildings
- Buildings close to street, often with some landscaping between buildings and street
Site Amenities
- Community focal points in larger developments, such as municipal buildings, libraries, and parks
- Extensive landscaping in parking lots
- Outdoor areas with seating and other amenities for workers, customers, and residents
- Green infrastructure, including innovative stormwater control
Transportation
- Interconnected streets and properties
- Buffered sidewalks and clear crosswalks along streets, within parking lots, and between buildings
- Parking in garages, to side of buildings, or behind buildings
- Building, street, and driveway layouts that are designed for both ease of vehicular and pedestrian access
- Bus shelters and stops for public transportation and strong connections to nearby train stations
- Direct trail connections to regional trail network