Finding that right mix is not as simple as it may seem. Large-scale, mixed-use development involves both the art and science of Placemaking. What makes mixed-use come alive is an integrated experience, a place purposely designed as an eclectic, changing scene.

The experience begins with a design strategy that accomplishes many things, among them:

• working with what is already in place and builds on underused or underappreciated assets
• considering the strategic relationships between new uses

• applying holistic thinking to establish natural compatibility among diners, shoppers, pedestrians, residents, and workers

Establish Mixed Use from the Ground Up
Working with Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies on the new Arsenal Yards in Watertown, has given us a chance to seed the Placemaking ideas of live-work-play on the existing environment at the site. There was a town-owned park behind the former mall, and the Charles River is adjacent to the site. One formative step we are taking is to design a new pedestrian “River Green” which will provide connections to the Charles River and the park.

We also worked to establish a network of lively spaces that promote a community spirit, encouraging different groups of people to access the site at different times of the day. By organically connecting to the existing amenities, the experience becomes more dynamic and varied.

Create a Sense of Place
One reason so many malls are failing is that the customer experience is too limited: chain stores, a food court, a parking lot. The goal must go beyond this simple formula—to craft a mix of compatible uses, spaces and shared experiences that provide a lasting sense of Place. In suburban Portsmouth, NH, for example, the opportunity to build housing adjacent to a repositioned retail center is offering a new synergy that allows residents the convenience of a village lifestyle where they can walk, shop, or dine.

Phase the Solution
Instead of planning it all at once, developers are now considering the benefits of phasing a large-scale mixed use-use development. This creates opportunities to measure what is working and gather information on what authentic uses, buildings, and open spaces will further advance the user experience. We know that our most beloved main street and downtown centers were not drawn up as a single development, they grew organically over time.

Achieving balance within a mixed-use project that integrates distinctively different user groups is never a prescriptive proposition. Anchoring it with a sense of place that appeals to a human sensibility is the crucial first step of the journey.

David Chilinski FAIA is the founding principal of the architecture firm PCA (Prellwitz Chilinski Associates).