Contact Information: Contact: Valerie Jennings 816.221.1040 valerie@jenningspr.net
180 Urban Design Reveals Case Study Web Video, Featuring City of Blue Springs, Missouri's Master Plan & Form Based Code
| Source: 180 Urban Design
KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwire - October 23, 2009) - Kevin Klinkenberg, speaker, writer and
principal of 180 Urban Design, recently produced a viral Web video case
study, featuring a form based code and downtown master plan project about
the City of Blue Springs, Mo. which his urban design and architecture firm
led.
The video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNzem90ikJc, spotlights and
emphasizes the importance of master planning, urban planning and urban
development.
The plan and code for the City of Blue Springs downtown revival, created by
180 Urban Design in 2006 and 2007, effectively incentivized smaller
entrepreneurs. According to Klinkenberg, too often urban designers focus
on the big glamorous projects, such as the multi-storied mixed-use
buildings that you see and not on the little things that can happen as
well. "The City of Blue Springs was able to accomplish all of the goals
that the city was looking for in their plan including increased residential
density and more attractive streets. But, most importantly -- they waited
until the plan was adopted and the form based code was adopted, in place
and was ready to go. In the city's case, the code was a real incentive in
getting this done," stated Klinkenberg.
This Blue Springs urban development is surrounded by a residential walkable
neighborhood. The distinctive downtown environment has empowered greater
small entrepreneurship by the community with effective guidelines and goals
for the public to put their own unique stamp in their neighborhoods. This
is what Klinkenberg believes has allowed local citizens to take charge and
have a personal stake in their urban living which is increasing the
sustainability of new growth and development for the neighborhood.
"This is a great model where some people, looking to do something good,
waited in the background until the city really took the right steps to make
projects like this really easy to do," Klinkenberg said. "The lesson for us
is that there are great things that can be done in very small increments by
very small developers if you put the right tools in place."
180 Urban Design is recognized for designing successful and sustainable
mixed-use projects, whether in Greenfield or redevelopment locations. The
company's work focuses exclusively on projects of this type, including
master planning, building design and writing form based zoning codes and
design guidelines.