109 Quote by Rebecca Solnit
““One [project of Teddy Cruz's] is titled Living Rooms at the Border. it takes a piece of land with an unused church zoned for three units and carefully arrays on it twelve affordable housing units, a community center (the converted church), offices for Casa in the church's attic, and a garden that can accommodate street markets and kiosks. 'In a place where current regulation allows only one use,' [Cruz} crows, ' we propose five different uses that support each other. This suggests a model of social sustainability for San Diego, one that conveys density not as bulk but as social choreography.' For both architect and patron, it's an exciting opportunity to prove that breaking the zoning codes can be for the best. Another one of Cruz's core beliefs is that if architects are going to achieve anything of social distinction, they will have to become developers' collaborators or developers themselves, rather than hirelings brought in after a project's parameters are laid out. ””
About This Quote
Integrating multiple community uses on a single site creates social interaction, economic vitality, and a model of sustainable urban density.
In simple terms: Mixed‑use design builds vibrant neighborhoods.
Combining housing, services, and public space fosters social choreography.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- revitalizing underused sites
- creating affordable housing clusters
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- Partner architects with developers to co‑design multi‑use projects
Questions to Reflect On
- How can zoning reforms support such models?
- What are the risks of over‑densifying a single block?
Complex mixed‑use projects can face regulatory delays and financing hurdles.