Living City Block will create a replicable, exportable, scalable, economically viable, and place-based investment framework for the resource efficient regeneration of existing cities and housing, one block at a time. As we work with cities to implement this framework and paradigm-shifting solution, we will create regenerative, resilient, and liveable cities that are culturally thriving, energy and resource super-efficient, healthy, and economically sustainable. Environmentally responsive, equitable, and affordable urban housing integrated with new energy innovation hubs, employment, economic development, education, more transportation choices, local food access, and other sustainable infrastructure systems is a paramount consideration for Living City Block.

Problem

By 2050, 80% percent of the world’s population will live in cities, while 75% of our existing building stock will still be in use. This team was inspired by the need to develop a new paradigm for retrofitting large, defined segments of existing city neighborhoods demonstrating a place-based investment framework for addressing the myriad challenges facing our cities in a comprehensive way: creating more resilient, affordable, desirable, and mixed-use urban environments that reduces dangerous dependence on foreign oil, creates jobs in the new energy economy, drives down energy costs, improves health / transportation / education, and proves the case (through physical interventions where people live) for making our cities radically more resource efficient, one block at a time.

Solution

As an organization, LCB works as an implementation partner and identifies the city block as a platform for urban systems change, where buildings, natural environment and other infrastructure systems (housing, food, water, transport, waste, energy, ICT) are addressed in an integrated and interdisciplinary manner. The LCB project aims to achieve resilient, resource efficient, and liveable communities – transforming life on the streets, how the community interacts, while also helping researchers, property managers, policy makers, engineers, architects, planners, health and behavioral scientists, construction managers and others understand how future drivers of sustainable urban environments (e.g., affordable, sustainable, resource-efficient housing near transit) will affect community and quality of life for urban inhabitants. LCB currently has projects underway in Denver, CO, Brooklyn, NY and is exploring collaborations in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Example

LCB's objective is to have at least 70% of building owners and 50% of residents supporting a Living City Block project before implementation in a city is considered. Denver's Lower Downtown (LoDo) LCB initiative is nearing the end of Year 2 of the initial analysis and research phases. We will be moving forward into implementation work in Denver this year in areas as varied as building energy efficiency and renewable energy integration, green roofs and urban agriculture, streetscape design and creating urban pocket parks, and introducing electric vehicle charging stations to the community. To be successful with Denver’s LoDo LCB initiative, as an example, the following key performance indicators are being utilized: By 2014: Block Wide Energy Savings of 50% By 2016: Block Achieves Energy Savings of 75%; Living City Block Hosts 2 Net-Zero Energy Use Buildings By 2018: Living City Block will be regenerative – producing more energy and resources than is used; and reducing vehicle miles traveled by 50% Success will also be defined through efforts to measure, monitor, and verify the effect of Living City Block on: stimulated market activity; existing local jobs; job creation; regional purchasing; active and healthy living; education; block-wide energy efficiency and renewables; integrated sustainable urban housing, transportation, and environmental protection solutions; critical urban resource flows: e.g. energy, water, food, materials, waste; and replication of innovative solutions in the city and across LCB 'Sister Cities' such as Brooklyn, New York and Santa Marta (in Colombia) via exchange of best practices.

Marketplace

Very few organizations worldwide are working to prove the value of retrofitting existing urban environments in large, defined segments. There are many examples of world class organizations working on the retrofit of individual buildings. There are many terrific examples of communities being designed and built from the ground up to accomplish goals similar to those of Living City Block. However, there are many opportunities to retrofit entire existing segments of urban blocks with residents, while capitalizing on economies of scale and experience. LCB will be the first full implementation project of this kind.