CHESTNUT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING CONTACT TEAM

ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY DATA

Key Concepts: “A Community of Caring & Sharing” How does Chestnut’s motto translate into our architecture?

The single story home with a low front fence, off street parking to the side of the building, and a generous front porch are the most prevalent types of housing structures in Chestnut. Below we talk more about how structures can help to promote the safety, pedestrian experience and community feel of Chestnut.

·         Historic and Cultural Heritage

o   Chestnut has a long history of being an affordable close knit community of families and small businesses. The original cottages are still the most prevalent type of housing structure in the neighborhood. We believe preserving & renovating these cottages adds to the connection between the past and present of Chestnut while helping to encourage community.

·         Community Character and Human scale

o   The long slender lots in Chestnut have created a streetscape that promotes one story structures at the sidewalk. The majority of homes in Chestnut are not setback far from the street to create a rear private yard. The front facades relationship to the sidewalk as a great impact on the pedestrian’s experience. By promoting single story front facades, the human scale is maintained and the openness of the street and sidewalk is preserved. Human scale creates a feeling of well-being and promotes walkability, which in turn promotes safety.

·         Safety

o   Eyes on the Street: When a community has homes that interact with the street crime is reduced. By locating windows and front porches toward the street fellow neighbors feel safer walking through the neighborhood, and would be vandals know that the community is watching out for each other. Front porches, low front fences, porch lighting, windows to the street all contribute to the safety of the community.

o   A low fence is a good way to define the edge of your property without blocking the visual connection between your front door and the street. This helps to reduce not only the crime at the street level but a low fence does not provide cover to a would be burglar.

·         Community Connectedness

o   Front porches help to create an interactive front façade. When a neighbor can see each other front doors not only does it help promote safety but it also promotes interaction. In Chestnut we have a long history of knowing and caring for our neighbors. This visual connection helps promote friendliness.

·         Family Orientated

o   Creating a usable yard space helps to promote family home ownership. There is a long history of private yards in Chestnut. These yards give some privacy between lots, create a space for private outdoor enjoyment and help to reduce the heat island effect.

o   The walkability, eyes on the street and community connectedness all help to promote and family orientated environment

·         Nature and Streetscape

o   Landscaping can greatly contribute to the microclimate and the pedestrian friendly feeling of a neighborhood. Plants and trees help to reduce the heat island effect, create shade, and reduce the impervious cover which reduces flooding. From a pedestrian point of view the landscaping can change a bland unhospitable sidewalk into a dynamic, pleasant experience.

Chestnut Facts

Contacts & Website:

Note to Developers:

The Chestnut NPCT believes in being proactive and working with all new players in our neighborhoods transformation. If you have any questions or concerns about building new construction in Chestnut please do not hesitate to contact Greg Goeken at gregory.goeken@gmail.com or Trinity White at trinity.white@ymail.com . We believe that conscientious, contextual, family orientated design is the key to success in our neighborhood.

We hope this brochure gives you some insight into what we believe our neighborhood has to offer, what makes it special and consequently what makes people want to join our community. The lifestyle embodied in this neighborhood is directly related to the built environment.

A community as open and friendly as ours is unique in a city setting. We believe that this vibe is a huge contributor to why people want to live here, and these design elements help to promote this spirit.