Commercial Architecture July 2017 - 14

FEATURE

new urbanism

ST. JOSEPH'S

vehicular speeds that favored greater walkability and, for

CRITICS AND OBJECTIONS

Among the CNU Charter Award honorees was Van
Meter Williams Pollack LLP, San Francisco, for their
redevelopment of the landmark former St. Joseph's
convent in Oakland, CA, into affordable housing.
The unique character of St. Joseph's provides
a strong sense of place in Fruitvale, Oakland. Five
historic buildings, dramatic trees, and the rumble of
the nearby trains contribute to a cohesively designed
site that includes new construction, landscaping, and
restoration. The redevelopment of the 3.3-acre block
has vastly improved the safety and attractiveness of the
streets it faces, with welcoming new entrances, new
uses, and more people offering "eyes on the street" at
all hours of the day.
The redevelopment provides 146 affordable
homes for senior citizens and families, 3,200 sq.
ft. of commercial uses, and two indoor community
spaces. Unique touches include the conversion of a
brick guardhouse into an art room, located next to the
children's play area.
The development also adds much-needed density-
approximately 40 units per acre-on a transit corridor.

that matter, bikability."

Not everyone is eager to move back to the city "because

14

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

JULY 2017

Transit, a key element in most new urbanist plans,

that's where the poor people live," Torti observed. But

could be a challenge in the short term, Moule fears. "I

that's changing, he thinks. "Towns and cities are becom-

think at a federal level we're going to see less funding

ing more economically diverse. One of the difficulties

for rail projects that help commuters access parts of

with moving families back to the cities is the quality of the

town that are beyond walking distance and otherwise

school systems, but those are slowly getting better. Many

would require getting into a car. That's surely going to

cities have made great strides in this area; many have not."

be a challenge moving forward."

Torti said.

Even though people may live in more walkable com-

Torti strongly favors creating mixed-income neighbor-

munities, getting them out of their cars continues to be

hoods. "Because you're poor doesn't mean you're a bad

a challenge, Moule continued. Generationally, younger

person. It means that you have less money than I do. Nor-

people seem to be less enthused about getting driver's

mally if a neighborhood has a range of income groups the

licenses, but there still may be some resistance about

way they used to, it makes for a better neighborhood. It

giving up private automobiles among middle-aged pop-

certainly makes for a more enjoyable neighborhood," he

ulations, she observed.

commented.

In addition "there are still, jurisdiction by jurisdic-

Some critics have cited gentrification as a negative im-

tion, zoning codes that are completely obsolete. I

pact of new urbanism, but while Moule says it may be a

mean, just the term zoning code is itself expressive of

fair criticism, it doesn't necessarily have to be so.

single-use zoning. That's what zoning codes meant; ev-

"There are ways to manage growth and densification

erything had to have a zone, a single-use zone. Plenty

in existing places that accommodate people, and there are

of codes throughout the entire country and, for that

ways that one can actually increase more affordable hous-

matter, around the world still require single-use zon-

ing than currently exists in some places. I think that's

ing," Moule said.

more a way that things are done, rather than something

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture July 2017
