Community focused mixed use precincts: good for residents and developers

Singapore’s riverside precincts – Clarke, Boat and Robertson Quays – were meticulously planned to blend historic and new developments, filled with dining, entertainment and leisure hot spots that are now prime real estate in a sought-after area.

More recently, in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur has embarked on a similar revitalisation of its riverfront. Public dollars are being pumped into beautifying the area, to attract private developers who can invest in high-quality mixed use precincts, to activate the waterfront 24/7.

It’s this clever combination of ground floor retail, active and safe streets, shade and protection from the elements, and pedestrian access to public transport that’s attracting people and supporting community growth within new and urban renewal developments.

In Singapore, the government launched a program that encourages businesses and communities to work together to make ten of the city’s designated Business Improvement Districts (BID) more attractive.

This blending of interests mirrors the current trend where the traditional mode of offices and/or residential apartments above retail spaces is being extended to include entertainment and culture venues, hotels and restaurants, as well as medical and childcare facilities.

There’s a whole of community approach that’s taking shape in these progressive Asian cities. While each location has its own set of attributes and market conditions, which impacts the mixed use elements of a development, community is becoming an important end goal.

A combination of young and older residents fosters safe and respectful communities, which in turn leads to economic sustainability among retail outlets, by attracting different demographics of consumers as they move through the stages of life.

We’re no longer beholden to the packed-in, post-war public housing projects that defined density in the 1950s. Density today can be as liveable and vibrant as the quarter-acre blocks once sought after for the great Australian dream.

By putting people first, we’re creating connections and communities that are needed in society today. Liveable, high-density cities are leading the way with developments that create a dynamic skyline and rich lifestyle choices for all ages.