Nashville Sees Significant Economic Effect in the Wake of Form-Based Code

Read Rick Bernhardt’s article in Better Cities and Towns, “Nashville values, development rise with form-based code,” which discusses the impacts Nashville’s Downtown Form-Based Code has had on the city since it’s introduction in February 2010. Opticos performed a professional review ...

Missing Middle Implementation: The Selby Live/Work Building in Buena Vista, CO

Siblings Jed Selby and Kate Selby Urban envisioned a more thoughtful way of living when they decided to develop the community of South Main in Buena Vista, CO. They envisioned a town that celebrated and preserved the landscape, a place ...

Part 2: Addressing Missing Middle Housing and Missing People in the Queen City: Cincinnati’s Form-Based Code and Transect

As part of a charrette held the week of Saturday April 28th, Opticos Design built upon months of field documentation, including many hours spent on Google Earth, mapping analysis, photography, and an assessment of the existing zoning code to refine an initial calibration of Cincinnati’s Urban-to-Rural Transect. Choosing and refining a form-based Organizing Principle for a city the size of…

Part 1: Addressing Missing Middle Housing and Missing People in the Queen City: Cincinnati’s Form-Based Code and Transect

Cincinnati’s urban neighborhoods are at a tipping point. The City has lost 40% of its population since 1950 leaving suburban densities in the city’s formerly urban neighborhoods. Many residential buildings and lots sit vacant or unmaintained, with over 10,000 historically contributing units in need of renovation. Neighborhood main streets have withered due to lack of people, competition from nearby big…