Old Fourth Ward: Land Use and Urban Design

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    OLD

    FOURTH

    WARD

    MASTERPLANHEALTHASSESSMENT

    SmallenestMSCandidate,CityPlanning,GeorgiaTechLadyRogueMSCandidate,DigitalMedia,GeorgiaTechfsumahoganyMPHCandidate,EmoryUniversityCapstonePartI|HealthyCities|Fall2009

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    1917sawthedisplacementof10,000peoplewhen2,000structuresburntdown,mostlytothewestoftheBoulevarddemarcationline.Inthewakeofthefire,thecitypassedanordinancebanningtheuseofwoodshingles.Theemptiedlands

    wereeventuallyrebuiltwithsignificantlydifferentstructuresthantheirpredecessors:commercialstripsalongEdgewoodandAuburnalongthestreetcarroutes,lowincomehousingdevelopmentssouthofNorthAvenue,andtwoandthreestoryapartmentbuildingsalongBoulevarduptoPonce.3Thesebuildingdecisionsshapethemoderndaycharacteroftheneighborhood.

    Image2.1917fireinAtlantasFourthWard

    Image3.FreedomParkway

    Inthe1960s,theGeorgiaDepartmentofTransportationbegantoacquirelandfortheeventualconstructionofFreedomParkwayaprojectthatlayvacantforover20yearsduetotheprotestsofneighborhoodleaders.Over500homesweredemolishedinthisprocess.4ThemodernownershipoftheBoulevardhousingprojectsisofsignificantimportwhenassessingthehealthassessmentofthecitysMasterPlan.Continental

    Wingateboughtmostofthehousingtractin1974inasweetheartdealthatensuresthecompanyreceivesfederalrentsubsidieswithouthavingtorehabthebuildingsforamodernhousingmarket.5Publiclyaccusedofoperatingslums,WingatesownershipofthehousingcorridorposesachallengeforadoptionoftheMasterPlan.

    OldFourthWardDemographics

    AccordingtothemostrecentinformationavailablefromtheAtlanta-JournalConstitution,theOldFourthWardpopulationisaround24,150citizens,withamedianincomeof$29,397.6Fortysixpercentofthehousinginventoryisrented,and23percentisvacant.

    OldFourthWardandCrime

    WhenYoungJeezyreferencesBoulevardinhishiphopsongs,heisspeakingoftheOldFourthWardanarea7thatgenerallyfallsonlybehindneighboringDowntownandMidtownintermsofcrime8.AtlantaCrimeReport.org,anonprofitwebsitethatcatalogues

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    crimetrends,indicatesthecrimespeakedin2007,butthereisnotenoughinformationprovidedaboutthesourcesoftheirdatatoassesstheviabilityofthisindication.9

    Image4.CrimedatacourtesyoftheAJC

    1.2LANDUSERECOMMENDATIONSFOROLDFOURTHWARD

    LanduseinOldFourthWardistransformingduetosignificantredevelopmentthroughouttheneighborhood.TheOldFourthWardMasterPlanoutlinestheexistingconditionsandrecommendationsrelativetolanduse.

    ExistingConditions10

    OldFourthWardconsistsofavarietyoflanduses,withlowandmediumdensityresidentialareasconsistingofthegreatestproportion(40%)ofthestudyarea.Majorcorridors,suchasBoulevardandPoncedeLeonAve,arecharacterizedbyindustrialandcommercialuses.AtlantaStrategicActionPlan,acomprehensiveplanthatwillguidelanduseforthenext15years,willkeeptheclassificationsofresidential,commercial,office,andopenspacestable.

    However,industrialareasinthestudyareawillbechangedtoamixeduseclassification.Rezoningactivitybetween2002and2007demonstratesashorttermredevelopmenttrend.Withinthisfiveyearperiod,48rezoningrequestsweresubmittedthatwouldincreasethedensitythroughoutthestudyarea.TherezoningrequestsconsistedofSingleFamilyResidentialUnits,CondominiumUnits,TownhouseUnits,Live/WorkUnitsandApartmentUnits.

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    Recommendations11

    TheOldFourthWardlanduseplanintendstoincreasethemixeduseareas,whilepreservingthehistoricsitesintheneighborhood.Theplanhopestoaccommodategrowththatisaestheticindesign.

    Thelanduseplanconsistsof10policiesand1projectthatwillhelpguideredevelopment:

    EncourageamixoflandusesthegoalistodevelopOldFourthWardintoamodelmixedusearea,whichwillprovideopportunitiesforpeopleofallincomestolive,work,andplayintheneighborhood.

    Preserveexistingsingle-familyareaspreservesinglefamilyhomesduetoanabundanceofmarginalcommercialorindustriallands.

    Focusgrowthalongcorridorsandnearexistingandfuturetransitinanefforttopreserveresidentialcharacter,increasetransportation,andrevitalizeimportantcorners,thelanduseplanintendstoconcentrateretailorhigherdensityactivityarounddevelopmentnodes.

    Supportappropriateinfillhousingvacantlotsordecrepithomesinsinglefamilyareasshouldbeconstructedorrenovatedinawaythatcomplementsthecharacterofadjacentstructuresandrespectslocalhistory.

    ProvideappropriatetransitionsbetweennewdevelopmentandexistingresidentialareasutilizeCityofAtlantaTransitionalHeightPlanetoaddressconflictsbetweennewdevelopmentsandexistingresidentialareas.

    Incorporategreenbuildingstandardsintodevelopmentsgreenbuildingstandards,suchasLEEDorEarthcraft,shouldbeimplementedinnewdevelopments.

    VarymaximumbuildingheightinresponsetocontextRecommendedMaximumBuildingHeightmapillustratesbuildingheightsbasedonstreetwidthtoavoidacanyoneffect.

    SupportandexpandcodeenforcementeffortstheDepartmentofPlanningandCommunityDevelopmentwillensurecomplianceofzoningandbuildingcodes.

    Supportpedestrian-orientedretailnodesinordertomaintainlongtermsuccessofretailerswithintheRecommendedRetailFrameworklocations,sidewalkorientedgroundfloorretailshouldbemandatoryonallbuildingsintheseareas.

    EncouragedevelopmentofthefollowingsixcatalyticredevelopmentsitesredeveloptheHistoricFourthWardParkArea,BoulevardCorridor,FormerURescueVillaSite,RenaissancePark,CivicCenter&SciTrek,andHistoricDistrictinsupportoftheplansvision.

    RezoningProjectrezoningshouldbeconsistentwiththeplansrecommendation.

    1.3URBANDESIGNRECOMMENDATIONSFOROLDFOURTHWARDTheOldFourthWardMasterPlanprovidesdetailedinformationabouttheexistingconditionsintheneighborhoodandrecommendspoliciesandprojectsthatwillenhancetheneighborhood.Theexistingconditionsandrecommendationsofthemasterplanspecifictourbandesignaresummarizedbelow.

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    ExistingConditions12

    Theneighborhoodwasoncecharacterizedbyanarchitecturallyrichanddiversehumanscaledurbanfabric.Someofthatfabricremainsintheformofonestory,singlefamilyhousingandhistoriccommercialbuildingsbut,especiallyalongmajortransportationcorridorslikeNorthAvenue,BoulevardandFreedomParkway,thescaleofthepresent

    neighborhoodismoreaccommodatingtoautomobilesthanhumans.Therearesidewalksthroughouttheneighborhood;theyrangefromsixtotenfeetwideandsomeareindisrepair.Therearefewstreettrees,andfewstreetlights,unattractivebussheltersandstops,widedriveways,andpoorlystripedcrosswalks.Olderhomesandhistoriccommercialbuildingsfrontthesidewalksandinteractwiththestreet,whilemorerecentstructuresaredivorcedfromthesidewalksandaresurroundedbyparkingand/orhighwallsorfences.Gatedcommunitiesconstructedduringperiodsofurbanrenewalservetoremovepedestrianactivityfromthestreetandencouragedriving.Aglutofparkinglotsanddecksalsopresentschallengestotheurbanfabric.

    Recommendations13

    Inordertoincreaseneighborhoodappeal,theOldForthWardmasterplanrecommendsimprovingtherelationshipbetweenbuildingsandthestreetandmakingthestreetmorebeautifultocreateamorewalkableenvironmentthatsupportsalternativemodesoftransportation.Recommendedprojectsincludenewgatewaymarkersatkeyintersections,andrezoninginaccordancewithrecommendedurbandesignandlandusepolicies.Theplanmakesfivespecificpolicyrecommendationswithrespecttourbandesign:

    Allowarchitecturalvariety,butrequirequalitybuildingmaterialsBrick,terracotta,stone,masonry,truestuccoandhardiplankareconsideredacceptable;exteriorinsulationfinishingsystemsarenot.Nomorethantwoprimarycolorsormaterialsareacceptableforfacades,andvisuallyheaviermaterialsshouldbebelowvisuallyheavierones.

    ProvidemodernbuildingdesignsoutsideofneighborhoodhistoricdistrictsModernstylebuildingsshouldbeencouraged.Modernstylehomesshouldusematerialsconsistentwiththecontextofthesurroundingneighborhood.

    Providepedestrian-orientedsupplementalsidewalkzonesWalkingisenvisionedtobetheprimarymodeoftransportationintheneighborhood.Specificrecommendationsforsidewalkwidth,treezones,andclearzonesaredetailedinthetransportationrecommendationsandwillbediscussedatlengthinalaterreport.Recommendthatdevelopersberequiredtomatchtheyard/supplementalzone

    guidelinessetforthinthetransportationrecommendationsinsection4.7. RequiregoodurbandesignTheplanoutlinessomekeycomponentsofgood

    urbandesign:parkingfacilitiesbehindbuildings(notinfront);nogatedcommunities;buildingsinmixedusezonesfrontthestreet,formacontinuousstreetwall,havedoorsaccessiblefromthesidewalk,haveactivegroundflooruses,havepedestrianscaledsignage,andhavetransparentgroundfloorglass.

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    ImproveurbandesigntominimizecrimeFocusonadequatelighting,trafficcalming,andonstreetparking.Incorporatepublicsafetycriteriaintothereviewprocessofallbuildingpermits.

    2.HEALTHIMPACTASSESSMENTSOFLANDUSE

    ANDURBANDESIGNRECOMMENDATIONS

    2.1SUPPORTPEDESTRIAN-ORIENTEDRETAILNODES

    Increasingpedestriansupportedretailaroundnodesmayincreasewalkingiftheproposedradiusofonequarterofamile(5minutes)aroundthenoderemainsthesame.Ithasbeenshownthatpeoplemakemoretripsbywalkingorbikingwhentheyliveinareaswith

    higherlanduse.14Increasedwalkingcouldpreventcoronaryheartdisease,coloncancer,anddiabetes.15Thesepedestriansupportedretailnodescouldalsoinitiateatourismindustry,whilepreservingthecommunitysheritage.16Albeit,retailnodesmayincreasewalkingandstimulatetheeconomyintheseneighborhoods,therearebarriersthatthedeveloperswillfaceduetoaslowredevelopmentprocess.Pedestriansupportedretailnodesmustbedesignedproperlytoensurethesafetyoftheresidentsthataretravelingfromasfarasonequarterofamile.TherealandperceivedincidenceofcrimeinOldFourthWardmaydiscouragepeoplefromwalkingtotheseretailnodes;incidencesofrobbery,assault,andtheftarecommonlydocumentedcrimesinOldFourthWard.17Properstreetlightingmaydecreasetherateofcrimearoundthesenodes.18

    2.2VARYMAXIMUMBUILDINGHEIGHTINRESPONSETOCONTEXT

    Varyingbuildingpositivesandnegativesgohandandhand.Limitingtheheightofbuildingsinsinglefamilyresidentialareaswillallowsunlighttoentermorefreely;sunlightprovidesvitaminD,whichassistintheuptakeofcalcium,increasesanindividualsmood,andkillsbacteria.19Ontheotherhand,tallbuildingscanprovideanotherformofwalking,climbingstairs,whichmayincreaseexercise.Ifdevelopersdesignedtallbuildingsthatincreasedtheaccessibilityandappealoftakingstairspeoplewouldwalkmoreandinturnpreventchronicdisease.20Maximumbuildingheightsmayalsoavoidurbanheatislands.Tallbuildingsprovide

    multiplesourcesforthereflectionandabsorptionoflightinurbanareas.Thisincreasedefficiencycancausecanyoneffects,whichmayincreasethelikelihoodofheatstrokes.21

    2.3INCORPORATEGREENBUILDINGSTANDARDSINTODEVELOPMENTS

    TheMasterPlansrecommendationsforgreenbuildingstandardsarerelativelyfluid:eitherLEED,Earthcraft,oranotherstandardestablishedbycitygovernment.22Ambiguoushealthstandardsprovideleewayforcorporationsandbuilderstoutilizemoreeconomical,

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    andpossiblylesshealthbeneficialmechanisms,soitistobehopedthatcityplannersrecommendtheadoptionofoneofthetwowidelyrecognizedstandards.TheLEEDsystemisanamalgamationof100possiblebasepointsofenvironmentally-sounddesign23,including:

    o SustainableSiteso WaterEfficiencyo Energy&Atmosphereo Materials&Resourceso IndoorEnvironmentalQualityo Locations&Linkageso Awareness&Education

    withbonuspointsavailableino InnovationinDesigno RegionalPriority

    Earthcraftstandardsoffersimilarbenefits.AgreenbuildingprogrambetweenGreaterAtlantaHomeBuildersAssociationandSouthfaceEnergyInstitute,Earthcraftprinciplesincludethestatements,Youcannothavesmartgrowthwithdumbbuildings,andSustainabilitybeginswithintegratedplanning.24ThepossiblehealthimpactoftherequiringLEEDcertificationinfuturebuildingprojectscanbegleanedbyexaminingtheCDCfactsheetontheLEEDND(NeighborhoodDevelopment)sexpertpanelreview.25ThepanelfoundthatneighborhoodscertifiedLEEDNDcouldreducetheriskofobesity,heartdisease,andhypertension,reducetheriskofasthmaandotherrespiratorydiseases,andreduceairpollutionandinjuriesfromvehiclecrashes,increasesocialconnectionandsenseofcommunity,improvementalhealth,andencouragehealthierdiets.

    WhilethestandardsforLEEDcertifiedbuildingsandneighborhoodsareinherentlydifferent,itstandstoreasontheimplementationofbuildingstandardsonawidescalecouldapproximatethestandardsforaneighborhood,andthusprovidesomeofthehealthbenefitslistedabove.

    2.3UTILIZEQUALITYOFLIFEZONINGDISTRICTS

    TheMasterPlancallsforutilizationofonlyqualityoflifezoningdistricts,including:MRCMixedResidentialandCommercial,MRMultifamilyresidential,LWLiveWork,NCNeighborhoodCommercial.ThesespecificationsareinlinewithSmartGrowthpolicies,whicharefocusedonmixeduse

    anddenselive/workcommunitieswitharangeofhousingoptions.26

    Theexpectedhealthoutcomesofthesestrategiesincludeincreasingwalkingandbicycling,reducingriskforchronicdiseases,reducingasthma,reducingobesityandassociateddiseases,andincreasingneighborhoodsafety,reducingviolenceandcreatingasenseofcommunitysafetyandsecurity.27

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    Image5.RecommendedLandUseMap28

    Zoningisthemostpowerfultoolacityhastoimplementitsplan,asitregulatestheuseofprivateproperty.29Itshouldbenoted,however,thatzoningisnotretroactive,andcodeenforcementisnecessarytocorrectpoorlivingconditions.30RestrictingrezoningtothesefourareaswillhavehealthyimpactinallowingaginginplacethroughMultifamilyResidential[MR]zoningwhichauthorizetheconstructionofapartments.NeighborhoodCommericial[NC]zoning,particularlyamongtheAuburnAvenuedistrict,allowsfortheverticalmixingofuse,reestablishmentofhistoric

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    commercialspace,revitalizationofcommunityspiritaroundasharedhistory,andprovidesforemploymentwithinwalkingdistanceforresidents.Thepropercombinationoftheseelementsiscrucialtothecontinuedculturalhealthofthecommunity,whichshouldnotbeallowedtobedisplacedinafashionsimilartotheTechwoodproject,whichsaw4,000primarilylowincomeandAfricanAmericansdisplaced

    fromtheareasurroundingtheGeorgiaTechcampus.31

    2.4PROVIDEAPPROPRIATETRANSITIONSBETWEENNEWDEVELOPMENT&

    EXISTINGRESIDENTIALAREAS

    TheOldFourthWardMasterPlanrecommendstherebeanappropriatetransitionbetweennewdevelopmentandexistingresidentialareas.32TheplansuggeststhattheexistingCityofAtlantaTransitionalHeightPlanewillbeadequatetomeetthisrecommendation.33Theheightplaneservestolimittheheightofbuildingsinatransitionareainordertopreventtheblockageoflighttotheexistingresidentialproperties.

    Accordingtoapaperexaminingthesustainabilityoftallbuildings,theavailabilityofdaylightisafactorinapersonssenseofwellbeing.34Thissuggeststhatpreventingtheblockageoflightwillhelptomaintainresidentssenseofwellbeing.Factorsthatnegativelyimpactoursenseofwellbeingcancausestressandstress,ifunrelieved,canleadtoanxiety,depression,highbloodpressure,andheartdisease.35

    2.5SUPPORTAPPROPRIATEINFILLHOUSING

    Infillhousingcouldhelptherevitalizationofacommunitybecomemorestableandprovidefundedprogramsforexistingresidentstoimprovethehomes.Vacantlotscanbeahavenforcrimeanddrugrelatedincidences.36Decreasingtheamountofdilapidatedandvacantlotsmaydecreasecrimeandalsoproveaestheticallypleasing.37Ifinfillhousingisdonerightit

    couldreducesprawlandreducetheenvironmentalimpactwithincities.Infillhousingcouldalsocontributetoeconomicisolationifassistanceisnotprovidedtoexistingresidentsforhousingrenovationsorfirsttimebuying.

    2.6FOCUSGROWTHALONGCORRIDORSANDNEAREXISTINGANDFUTURETRANSIT

    TheOldFourthWardMasterplanspecifiesthatfuturegrowthbefocusedalongexistingcorridorsandtransithubsbothexistingandfuture.ThisisinlinewithSmartGrowthrecommendations,whichspecifythatdevelopmentshouldstrengthenanddirectdevelopmenttowardexistingcommunities.38Theplancallsforretailorhigherdensitydevelopmentalongdevelopmentnodes,withtheaimofpreservingresidentialcharacterelsewhere,centralizingtraffictoallowworkersandshopperstoarrivebytransitwithfuturestreetcarstopsinmind.Thehealthimplicationsofthenodecentralizationarearrivedatbyexaminingtheareasoverdependenceoncartraffic.Thenodesinquestionliealongmajorcitythoroughfares;theusageofwhichcanbeexpectedtoincreaseasaresultoftheprojecteddoublingofpopulationby2035.39

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    Whilethecentralizednodesareintendedtoincreasewalkabilitybycreatinghubsofeconomicinterestforresidents,itseemslogicaltointuitthatAtlantascardependencewillnotdramaticallybealteredbytheadditionofmoreshopping.Thusthecentralizationofgrowthtacticplacespedestriantrafficalongthesametrafficcorridorsascars,exposingthepopulacetoairpollutionanditsfourprincipalhealtheffects:increasedmortality,threatenedrespiratoryhealth,cardiovascularfunction,andincreasedriskofcancer.40

    Promotingwalkablecitiesmayhoweveroverridethisfactor,especiallyiftransportationmodalitydecreasescardependency.Walkingjusttenblocksadayisassociatedwitha33percentdecreaseintheriskofcardiovasculardiseaseamongwomen,whichmayoutweightheimpactofairbornepollutants.41AsareportonBuiltEnvironmentandPublicHealthnotes:Despitecritiques,bothfederalandstateagencies,includingtheU.S.EPAandCaliforniaAirResourcesBoard,haveconcludedthatthereissufficientevidencetojustifypoliciestoencouragemorecompact,mixedusedevelopmentaroundtransittoreduceairpollution.42

    2.7PRESERVEEXISTINGSINGLE-FAMILYAREAS

    Preservingexistingsinglefamilyareasservestwopurposes.Itfocusesdevelopmentinmarginalcommercialandindustrialareaswhereredevelopmentwouldbemorebeneficialanditservestoprotecttheexistingphysicalandsocialfabricofthecommunitieswithintheneighborhood.Singlefamilyresidentialareasinthisneighborhoodarecharacterizedbyshortblocksonagriddedstreetpattern,housingtypesthatfeaturefrontporchesandinteractwiththestreet,andsmalllots.Theseareashavegoodwalkinginfrastructure,althoughthesidewalksinsomeareasareinneedofrepair,andcouldbecomehighlywalkableareasifconnectivitytoandthroughtheareaswasincreasedandifnecessarysupportserviceswereintegratedintosurroundingareas.Neighborhoodswithgoodwalkinginfrastructureareassociatedwith

    increasedlevelsofphysicalactivityinchildrenandadults.43

    ,44

    Protectingtheexistingsocialfabricoftheneighborhoodalsohaspositivehealthimpacts.Socialrelationshipsoffermanyhealthbenefits.45Socialrelationshipsprovidephysicalandemotionalsupportinstressfulsituations,supportrecoveryfromillness,preventisolation,havepositiveeffectsonselfesteem,andhavebeenshowntoreducetheriskofearlydeath.46Socialrelationshipshavealsobeenassociatedwithdecreasedlevelsofviolentcrime47,andmorephysicalactivityduringleisuretime.48

    2.8ENCOURAGEAMIXOFLANDUSES

    The1996U.S.SurgeonGeneralReport,PhysicalActivityandHealthconcludedthatmore

    than200,000deathsperyearareattributabletosedentarylifestyles,theequivalentofapproximately25percentofalldeathsfromchronicdiseaseand10percentofalldeathsintheUnitedStates.49Mixedlandusecouldpreventthesedeathsbyincreasingphysicalactivity.Mixedlandusehasbeenshowntoincreasephysicalactivitybypositioningindustrialandcommercialunitsinwalkingdistance,preservinghistorichomesanddecreaseenvironmentalimpactfromautomobiles.InastudybyAntonakos50,mostwalkingtrips(72%)inthe1990NationwidePersonalTransportationSurvey(NPTS)werelessthan1kilometerindistance,while57%ofbicyclingtripswerebetween1and8kilometers.This

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    datamaysuggestthatifmixedlanduseweretobedevelopedthanpeoplewouldtakemoretripsbywalkingorbiking.Ithasalsobeenstudiedthatindividualsthatliveinhomesbuiltbefore1974walkmorethanpeoplewholiveinhomesbuiltafterthatdate.51Also,thefewerresidentswhodrive,themorepollutionrelatedillnessesandautomobilerelateddeathscouldbeprevented.52AllofthesefactorsofincreasedmixedlandusecouldbenefittheOldFourthWardstudyarea.

    MixedlandusecouldalsoincreasesocialcapitalwithinOldFourthWard.RobertPutnamsBowlingAlone:TheCollapseandRevivalofAmericanCommunity53discussesAmericansdependencyoncars.Americansspendupwardto2hoursdailycommutingandlackthetimeforciviceventsthatprovideasocialoutlet.Mixedlandusethatprovidesmorejobsincommunitieswherepeoplelivecouldincreasesocialcapitalbydecreasingthecommutetime.AlthoughtherearemanybenefitstomixedlanduseintheOldFourthWardstudyarea,theimplementationoftheseusesarenotguaranteedtobesuccessfulinincreasingphysicalactivityandgeneratingtrips.54

    2.9PROVIDEPEDESTRIAN-ORIENTEDSUPPLEMENTALSIDEWALKZONES

    Providinginfrastructurethatsupportswalkingforleisureandtransportationiscrucialtodevelopingawalkableintownneighborhood.Goodwalkinginfrastructurehasbeenshowntobeassociatedwithphysicalactivity.55Inhighlywalkableneighborhoodsthosecharacterizedbygoodwalkinginfrastructure,amixoflanduses,highdensity,connectivity,appealingaesthetics,andsafetypeoplewalkmore,makingasmanyasfourorfivetimesmoretrips.56AstudyconductedinSanDiegoshowedthatpeoplewholivedinneighborhoodsconsideredhighlywalkableneighborhoodswerelesslikelytobeoverweightthanthosewholivedinconsiderablylesswalkableneighborhoods.57

    Goodwalkinginfrastructureencouragespeopletowalk,whichisinitselfapositivepublichealthimpact,butitalsoimprovesaccesstorecreationfacilitiesandparks,wherethereismoreopportunityforphysicalactivity,anditalsoimprovesaccesstohealthcarefacilities.Aneighborhoodwithoutgoodwalkinginfrastructureputspedestriansatriskfordangerousinteractionswithautomobiles.58Itisnotsurprisingthenthatalackofsafeplacestowalkinaneighborhoodcandeterpeoplefrombeingphysicallyactive.59Pedestrianorientedsupplementalsidewalkzonesprovideasafeareaforpedestrianstowalkbyminimizinginteractionswithvehiculartraffic.Thispolicypromotespublichealthinthreeimportantways:itpromotespedestriansafety,whichhelpstopreventinjuriesfrommotorvehicles60;itpromoteswalkability,whichhasbeenshowntoincreaselevelsofphysicalactivity61,andimprovesaccesstorecreational

    facilitiesandparks,whichmayincreasephysicalactivityespeciallyamongchildrenandadolescents62;itimprovesaccesstohealthcarefacilities.

    2.10PROVIDEMODERNBUILDINGDESIGNSOUTSIDEOFHISTORIC

    NEIGHBORHOODDISTRICTS

    Modernbuildingdesignsareaestheticallyappealing63andiftheyfollowLEEDorEarthcraftgreenbuildingstandards,mayalsoprovideahealthierresidencethanolderstructures.

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    LEEDcertifiedstructuresprovideincreasedsunlightthroughwiderwindows,lessindoorairpollutionthroughHVACsystemsthatfilterharmfulambientparticles,andtheprohibiteduseofasbestosproductswithininfrastructurearesomeofthecharacteristicsofahealthierenvironment.Historicbuildingsmaynotberetrofittedwiththesameeffectstocreateahealthierenvironment.64

    NOTES1Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Introduction, pg. 2.

    2Atlanta Ward System. Wikipedia. October 19, 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_ward_system

    3Great Atlanta fire of 1917. Wikipedia. October 19, 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Atlanta_fire_of_1917

    4Freedom Parkway. Wikipedia. October 19, 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Parkway

    5

    Henry, Scott. Down on Boulevard: Positive change might finally come to Atlantas lawless street. Creative Loafing May19, 2009:http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/down_on_boulevard_positive_change_might_finally_come_to_atlanta_s_lawless_street/Content?oid=827931

    6Old Fourth Ward Population Demographics, Old Fourth Ward Maps, Old Fourth Ward School Information-ajchomefinder. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. October 19, 2009 .

    7Young Jeezy. Wikipedia. October 19, 2009 .

    8 Counting Crime in Atlanta. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. October 19, 2009. http://www.ajc.com/news/counting-crimes-in-atlanta-110673.html

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    9Crime in Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta. Atlanta Crime Report. October 19, 2009 .

    10Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Section 3, pg. 18-21.

    11Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Section 4, pg. 52-61.

    12Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Section 3, pg. 27-28.

    13Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Section 4, pg. 63, 68-69.

    14Frank L, Engelke P. How land use and transportation systems impact public health: a literature review of therelationships between physical activity and built form. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/aces.htm . 2002. Accessed October18, 2009.

    15US Dept of Health and Human Services. Physical activity and health: a report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: US Deptof Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic DiseasePrevention and Health Promotion, 1996.

    16Local Commercial and Retail Nodes. Township of Langley. 23 Sept. 2009. Web. 18 Oct. 2009.

    17Atlanta Crime: Old Fourth Ward. Atlanta Crime Report. Web. 20 Oct. 2009.18Farrington, David, and Brandon Welsh. Improved street lighting and crime prevention. Justice Quarterly 2nd ser. 19

    (2002): 313-42. Print.19Hobday, Richard. Opinion Paper A Right to Sunlight? Raw data. Centre for the Study of Sustainable Building, Bristol,England.

    20Lee, Jennifer. To Improve Public Health, City Urges Use of Stairs. The New York Times [New York, New York] 10 June2009. Print.

    21S. A. Changnon, Jr., K. E. Kunkel, and B. C. Reinke (1996). Impacts and responses to the 1995 heat wave: A call toaction. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 77: 14971506.

    22Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Part 6, pg. 54.

    23USGBC: LEED Rating Systems. U.S. Green Building Council. October 19, 2009.http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222

    24Earthcraft Communities Earthcrafthouse.com. October 19, 2009.http://www.earthcrafthouse.com/About/communities.htm

    25Healthy Community Design: LEED-ND and Healthy Neighborhoods, An Expert Panel Review. National Center forEnvironmental Health, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services. May 2009.

    26About Smart Growth. Smart Growth. October 19, 2009. http://www.sph.emory.edu/eoh/index.php

    27Planning Communities What health has to do with it. Contra Costa Health Services. 2007.http://cchealth.org/groups/injury_prevention/pdf/planning_healthy_communities.pdf

    28Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Section 4

    29Malizia EE. City and regional planning: a primer for public health officials. American Journal of Health Promotion.2005; 19 Suppl 5: 1-13.

    30National Center for Environmental Health: Healthy Housing Reference Manual Chapter 3: Housing Regulations |

    CDC. CDC. October 19, 2009.http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/books/housing/cha03.htm#Zoning,_Housing_Codes,_and_Building_Codes

    31Fact Sheet Forced evictions and displacements in past Olympic cities. COHRE Centre on Housing Rights andEvictions. October 19, 2009. http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Atlanta.doc

    32Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Section 4, pg. 54

    33Ibid.

    34Crompton A and Wilson A. Sustainable Tall Buildings Fact or Fiction? Available athttp://wiki.epfl.ch/hdstudio/documents/articles/sustainable%20tall%20buildings%20%C2%96%20fact%20or%20fiction

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    .pdf

    35Smith S and Pergola J. What is stress? Available at http://nasdonline.org/document/2158/d000008/stress-management-strategies.html36Spelman, Fran. Crackdown on Vacant Lots. Chicago Sun-Times [Chicago, IL] 21 July 2009. Print.

    37Aesthetics. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT 45-UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTARCHITECTURAL AND SITE PLAN REVIEW #06-A38. Claremont, CA. 3.1-.1.1. Print.

    38Anonymous, Getting to Smart Growth: 100 Policies for Implementation. Smart Growth Network and InternationalCity/County Management Association 2002, as cited in Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, and Richard Jackson. UrbanSprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning and Building for Healthy Communities. Washington, DC: Island Press,2004.

    39Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Old Fourth Ward Master Plan. Atlanta: 2008. Section 3, pg. 44.

    40Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, and Richard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning andBuilding for Healthy Communities. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004. pg. 80

    41What are the Odds of Dying?. National Safety Council. December 4, 2003 . as cited in Howard, Frumkin, LawrenceFrank, and Richard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning and Building for HealthyCommunities. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004.

    42Ewing, Dr. Reid, and Dr. Richard Kreutzer. Understanding the Relationship Between Public Health and the BuiltEnvironment: A report prepared fro the LEED-ND Core Committee. May 2006. p. 31http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=148

    43Kahn et al. Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States. Morbidityand Mortality Weekly Report. 2009, Vol. 58, No. RR-7. pg. 17-18. Available at:http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5807.pdf

    44Saelens BE, Sallis JF, Black JB, Chen D. Neighborhood-based differences in physical activity: An environment scaleevaluation. Am J Public Health 2003; Vol. 93, No. 9. pg. 1552-58. as cited in Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, andRichard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning and Building for Healthy Communities.Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004.

    45Broadhead EW, Kaplan BH, James SA, et al. The epidemiologic evidence for a relationship between social support andhealth. American Journal of Epidemiology 1983, Vol. 117. pg. 521-37.House JS, Landis KR, Umberson D. Social relationships and health.Science 1988, Vol. 241. pg. 442-51Berkmen LF. The role of social relationships in health promotions.Psychosomatic Medicine 1995, Vol. 57. pg.245-54Seeman TE. Social ties and health: The benefits of social integration.Annals of Epidemiology 1996, Vol. 6. pg. 442-51Hawe P and Shiell A. Social capital and health promotion: A review.Social Science and Medicine 2000, Vol. 51. pg.871-85Kawachi I. Social Capital and community effects on population and individual health. Annals of the NY Academy ofSciences 2000, Vol. 896. pg. 120-30(for all) As cited in Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, and Richard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing,Planning and Building for Healthy Communities. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004. pg. 100

    46UC Berkeley Health Impact Group. Mac Arthur BART transit village health impact assessment. 2008. Available athttp://ehs.sph.berkeley.edu/hia/MacbartHIA.pdf.

    47Kennedy BP, Kawachi R, Glass R, Prothrow-Stith D. Income distribution, socioeconomic status, and self-rated health: AUS multi-level analysis.British Medical Journal1998, Vol. 317. pg. 917-21. As cited in Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank,and Richard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning and Building for Healthy Communities.Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004. pg. 170

    48

    Lindstrom M, Hanson B, Ostergren P-O. Socioeconomic differences in leisure-time physical activity: The role of socialparticipation and social capital in shaping health related behavior.Social Science and Medicine 2001, Vol. 52. pg.441-5 ascited in Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, and Richard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planningand Building for Healthy Communities. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004. pg. 170.

    49US Dept of Health and Human Services. Physical activity and health: a report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: US Deptof Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic DiseasePrevention and Health Promotion, 1996.

    50Antonakos, C. 1995. Nonmotor Travel in the 1990 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. TransportationResearch Record 1502: 75-81.

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    51Governors Council on Physical Fitness, Health & Sports. Proc. of Michigan Land Use Leadership Council, Michigan.Web. 20 Oct. 2009. .

    52Ibid.

    53Robert D. Putnam. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster, New York.2000 (213).

    54Frank L, Engelke P. How land use and transportation systems impact public health: a literature review of therelationships between physical activity and built form. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/aces.htm . 2002. Accessed October18, 2009.

    55Kahn et al. Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States. Morbidityand Mortality Weekly Report. 2009, Vol. 58, No. RR-7. pg. 17-18 Available at:http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5807.pdf

    56Saelens BE, Sallis JF, Black JB, Chen D. Neighborhood-based differences in physical activity: An environment scaleevaluation. Am J Public Health 2003; Vol. 93, No. 9. pg. 1552-58. as cited in Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, andRichard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning and Building for Healthy Communities.Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004.

    57Ibid.

    58

    Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, and Richard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning andBuilding for Healthy Communities. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004. p.117

    59Kahn et al. Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States. Morbidityand Mortality Weekly Report. 2009, Vol. 58, No. RR-7. p. 20-21 Available at:http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5807.pdf

    60Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, and Richard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning andBuilding for Healthy Communities. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004. p.119

    61Saelens BE, Sallis JF, Black JB, Chen D. Neighborhood-based differences in physical activity: An environment scaleevaluation. Am J Public Health 2003; Vol. 93, No. 9. p. 1552-58. as cited in Howard, Frumkin, Lawrence Frank, andRichard Jackson. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning and Building for Healthy Communities.Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004.

    62Kahn et al. Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States. Morbidityand Mortality Weekly Report. 2009, Vol. 58, No. RR-7. p. 16-17 Available at:

    http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5807.pdf

    63Aesthetics.DRAFTENVIRONMENTALIMPACTREPORT45UNITAFFORDABLEHOUSINGPROJECTARCHITECTURALANDSITEPLANREVIEW#06A38.Claremont,CA.3.1.1.1.Print.

    64USGBC: LEED Rating Systems. U.S. Green Building Council. October 19, 2009.http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222