New mixed-use affordable housing developments have the potential to bring much-needed retail options to underserved communities throughout the five boroughs. Yet all too often, poor design choices render these spaces inflexible, cramped, and hard to lease. Laying the Groundwork, a comprehensive set of design guidelines and best practices developed by the Design Trust for Public Space, aims to rectify this problem and ensure the next generation of mixed-use affordable housing strengthens our city’s neighborhoods and commercial corridors.

Join the Design Trust, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) NYC, Larisa Ortiz Associates, and the NYC Department of Small Business Services, for an interactive forum on how Business Improvement Districts, nonprofit community-based developers, and other neighborhood-based groups can promote high-quality ground-floor design in new mixed-use affordable housing developments. 

The session will focus on the nine Critical Success Factors identified in Laying the Groundwork and other elements key to successful retail or community space, and will feature a panel of experts and practitioners who will share lessons learned in creating high-quality space for retail and community use.