Location + Neighborhood Fabric

1. Protect floodplain functions

Maintain or improve floodplain resilience of the existing development:

• Substantial rehabilitation projects located within the SFHA, as identified by FEMA on the Flood Map Service Center or by a local or state entity, are required to meet ASCE 24-24, A Standard for Flood-Resistant Design and Construction.
• Ensure that any development or redevelopment activities within the floodplain will mitigate prior degradation and enhance existing floodplain conditions (e.g., maintain or increase floodplain storage and improve water quality).
• Do not raise topographical elevations in floodplains.

2. Protect aquatic ecosystems

Aquatic ecosystems include wetlands and deepwater habitats and are classified as:

• Marine (tidal wetlands, shorelines, mudflats, reefs)
• Estuarine (bays, lagoons, marshes)
• Riverine (streams, rivers, associated floodplains, and their riparian buffer)
• Lacustrine (lakes, ponds, associated shorelines, and their riparian buffer)
• Palustrine (nontidal wetlands, seeps, springs, vernal pools, seasonal wetlands)

3. Conserve habitat for threatened or endangered species

As part of the predevelopment design process, identify whether the site includes habitat for any plant or animal species appearing on U.S. federal or state lists as threatened or endangered. If the site hosts any threatened or endangered plant or animal species, conduct a habitat assessment for each identified species.Sites that feature habitats for any species appearing on federal or state lists as threatened or endangered must:

• Not extend the building, built structures, roads, or parking areas into habitats for threatened or endangered plant or animal species
• Minimize disturbance to habitats for threatened or endangered plant or animal species during construction
• Follow the guidance of responsible state or local agencies on how best to remediate harms if construction activities inadvertently disrupt the habitat of threatened or endangered animals or plants

When project teams are considering sites for development, in addition to the above requirements, review the following:

• Use Criterion 2.1 Ecological Conservation and Safer Sites to avoid hazards and conserve critical ecosystems after completing the resilience assessment exercise as part of Criterion 1.1 Project Priorities Survey. This exercise supports project teams in understanding project climate hazards, which developers should consider when making location decisions, and which project teams should respond to with essential and appropriate resilience strategies during planning, design, and development.
• Project teams developing properties that include floodplains are encouraged to incorporate applicable resilient floodproofing and construction strategies within Option 2 and Option 3 of Criterion 3.10 Resilient Site Design: Flood.
• Avoid locations that are projected in local or state plans to experience sea-level rise. This includes sites projected to be within the boundaries of 2080 sea-level rise and/or high-tide flooding, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Sea Level Rise Viewer ( https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/).
• Avoid a location with steep or unstable soils. Building on steep or unstable soils increases the risk of long-term structural problems that may result in costly maintenance and repairs. Avoid locations that have slopes greater than 15%, those with type B or C soil per the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, and those known to experience subsidence or slope failure.
• Avoid developing in areas at high risk of wildfire. Wildfires can destroy or damage property, expose residents to poor air quality, and threaten human life. Even highly urbanized areas can experience major wildfires or conflagrations. Refer to Criterion 3.11 Resilient Site Design: Wildfire for additional guidance on wildfire risk and adaptation strategies.
• Many states have specific protocols for evaluating sites for endangered animals and plants. Consult state or local codes or other requirements when evaluating the wildlife on your site.

• Locate the project on a site that is within or contiguous to existing development. At least 25% of the site perimeter must border currently developed land and have access to existing road, water, and sewer infrastructure.
• Connect the project to the existing pedestrian network by creating new pathways or roads with sidewalks, or by providing sidewalks on existing streets, to link the project to transit stops, public or civic spaces, open spaces, and adjacent development.
• For sites larger than 5 acres, provide connections to the adjacent street network at least every 800 linear feet along the site perimeter.
• Tie all existing and planned bike paths and lanes on the development site to existing bike paths or lanes that are safe, accessible, and clearly identified.

• Provide enhanced pedestrian crossings at intersections by using elements such as curb extensions, medians, crosswalk count-down clocks, daylighting, detectable warning strips, street treatments (e.g., differently colored or textured pavement in crosswalks), or sidewalk expansion. On streets with large blocks, consider mid-block pedestrian crossings.
• Design engaging and safe sidewalk experiences appropriate for expected pedestrian flows and uses. Include benches and shade trees for rest and shade.
• See other criteria in Category 2: Location + Neighborhood Fabric for additional considerations and strategies for transit, shared mobility, biking, and walking.

In Rural/Tribal/Small Town locations, build to a minimum net density of:

• Five dwelling units per acre for single-family homes
• Ten dwelling units per acre for one- and two-story multifamily buildings
• Fifteen dwelling units per acre for multifamily buildings higher than two stories

Notes:

• Net density calculations do not include land that is set aside for future building phases or development. For multiphase projects, the project net density should include only the portion of the parcel that is being used for that phase.
• Any acreage maintained as permanently protected open space per Criterion 2.5 Access to Open Space may be deducted from total project acreage to determine project density.

• Reduce building footprints and preserve green space, especially for new construction, by building “up” rather than “out” whenever possible.
• Move surface parking underground or into a parking structure when feasible.

• Demonstrate that your project is within a 0.5-mile walk distance of at least four, or a 1-mile walk distance of at least seven of the services and resources identified below.
• For projects that qualify as Rural/Tribal/Small Town, locate your project within 5 miles of at least four services or resources.
• Each service or resource type may not be counted more than twice. For example, if there are five banks within the required distance, only two may be counted.

• In conversations with existing or potential residents, and using other assessment tools, identify the most-needed services and community resources in your area.
• Make the pedestrian experience safe and comfortable. See Criterion 2.6 Transit, Mobility, and Walkability for techniques to make pedestrian paths more comfortable and accessible.
• City, municipal, and county governments (e.g., a local planning department or health department) can serve as resources to better understand community amenities.

Notes for both Option 1 and Option 2:

• When calculating open space, deduct buildings, private outdoor areas, streets, roadways, and vehicle parking from the total site area.
• Occupiable areas of green roofs can be used in open-space calculations if the roof area is accessible to all residents.
• Land that is set aside for future development cannot be included as open space in calculations.

• Consider the security and maintenance needs of all open spaces included on the site.
• Design building massings to enhance nearby parks, plazas, and open spaces.
• Ensure open spaces are safe and are designed to promote active use by residents. Features like active bike and walking trails and paths, lighting, seating options, native plantings, and recreation facilities help make open spaces a community amenity.
• Design open spaces to align with the cultural preferences of the local population and to accommodate people of all ages.

Shared mobility initiatives [1 point each]

• Provide residents with discounted transportation passes for a period of at least 12 months.
• Provide residents with free transportation passes for a period of at least 12 months.
• Include vehicle-share and/or vanpool parking on the property.
• Provide all eligible residents with discounted vehicle-share memberships for a period of at least 12 months.
• Provide a minimum of 50% of eligible residents with free vehicle-share memberships for a period of at least 12 months.

• Locate the project along dedicated bike trails or lanes (Class I, II, or IV) that lead to high-quality transit services (100 or more trips per day) within 3 miles.
• Provide outdoor short-term bicycle storage or racks and one bike-repair station accessible for visitors and residents.
• Provide secure, lockable, sheltered, and accessible long-term bicycle storage for at least 25% of building residents. Post signage directing residents to bicycle parking areas and programs.
• Provide bicycles and equipment (e.g., helmets, locks, tire pumps, maintenance equipment) for resident use.
• Promote use of and access to one or more bicycle-share or micromobility (e.g., scooter) programs within 0.5-mile of the building. Bicycles and micromobility options must be accessible to occupants at all hours. Maps to the nearest bike station and other access information should be posted in a visible location within a common area in the building and must be included in the materials provided in compliance with Criterion 8.3 Resident Manual.
• Provide residents with discounted bicycle-share or micromobility memberships for a period of at least 12 months.
• Provide residents with free bicycle-share or micromobility memberships for a period of at least 12 months.

Increased walkability [1 point each]

• Include public wayfinding signage that promotes walkability and access to services.
• Include at least two site-improvement features adjacent to sidewalk(s) within the development (e.g., street trees, seating, trash receptacles, or bike-maintenance stations) to create an active streetscape that encourages walking and biking.
• Include at least two of these features within the development to increase pedestrian activity and comfort:
  • » Curb extensions
  • » Sidewalk(s) widened beyond what is required by code or local regulation
  • » An unpaved buffer separation, barrier, or curb edge to physically separate sidewalks from roadways
  • » Visual appearance of sidewalks where they cross driveways and alley access-ways, using a scoring pattern or special paving
  • » Clearly defined and marked crosswalks at all intersections

• Consider using technology like TransitScreen in common areas to provide real-time transportation information to residents and staff. http://transitscreen.com.
• Provide bicycle trail and route maps, or information for residents about where to get them. Many cities and counties have such maps for free download on their websites.
• When considering enhancing access to alternative modes of transportation, gather community input to learn what people in the area would see as benefiting their community.
• Encourage safety when considering opportunities for biking, walking, driving, and parking. Consider promoting designs that encourage slow-speed, low-volume roadways, thereby enhancing pedestrians’ and bikers’ safety.
• Consider offering a trial subscription or membership for residents to try a local vehicle-share or bike-share service. Contact the provider of these services to see if they would like to offer a discount or credit to encourage use.
• For ease of use, consider incorporating bicycle storage on the ground floor with direct roll-in access that is separate and distinct from automobile access. Push-button doors make roll-in access even more convenient for riders, especially during inclement conditions.
• Provide bicycle storage for staff as well as residents.
• To encourage pedestrian activity, minimize vehicular curb cuts on streets with heavy foot traffic by constructing curb extensions along sections of the sidewalk that tend to attract greater pedestrian congestion and sections that are close to pedestrian crossings.

• For projects pursuing Option 3, consider allocating additional square footage to support areas for community gardening (e.g., pathways, sheds, storage areas) and bringing in an individual or a group (e.g., a master gardener or a garden club) to work with residents to establish the garden and maintain productivity. Seek out local agriculture nonprofits in your area for support.
• Grow and/or plant foods that have cultural connections for residents — either familiar or traditional foods — and allow residents to decide what to grow. Plantings may also include food-bearing shade trees and ornamental shrubs.
• Encourage fresh food providers, including those who organize farmers’ markets and run food cooperatives (co-ops), to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT).
• Consider incorporating cooking classes for residents into your resident engagement program (see Criterion 2.8 Community Space and Programs). Cooking classes are a fun and creative way to incentivize healthy food options, raise awareness and understanding of cultural diversity in a place, and build community and social cohesion within a development.

Provide physical space for, or establish a formal partnership with, a local business, nonprofit, or other organization that offers community recreation activities, services, skill development, or education in response to resident and community needs and preferences. The lease or partnership agreement must include a minimum 12-month commitment and one or more of the following:

• Rent incentive: Provide a reduced-cost space for job skill development, educational institutions and/or public education.
• Local business: Provide space specifically to local and small businesses or nonprofits to support local economic development. Local and small businesses must meet prevailing national definitions (e.g., no national chains, even if they are locally owned franchises or registered B Corporations).
• Resident priority: Provide space for a child care or health care facility with priority access for residents.
• Local partnerships: Establish a formal partnership with nonprofits, small or local businesses, service or education providers, child care operators, or health care operators that deliver programming within 0.5 miles of the project to provide:
  • » Health and wellness (nutrition, cooking, screenings, child care, or health care)
  • » Educational empowerment and digital inclusion (before- or after-school programs, educational institutions, trainings)
  • » Economic empowerment (financial literacy, coaching, job training, entrepreneurship support, small business or nonprofit development)

• If providing physical space for business, nonprofits, and/or skill and workforce education, prioritize leasing to tenants that would become neighborhood assets. For instance, if your project has access to bike routes or trails, leasing space to a bicycle workshop or co-op would be one way to promote bicycle use and provide a valuable amenity to residents and the community at large. Innovative bike programming may teach people how to ride bicycles, mentor people about using bicycles safely for everyday needs (e.g., winter biking), let people check out bicycles, teach bicycle maintenance, and more.
• Ensure commercial and/or educational spaces have doors or direct access to the street at grade. At minimum, commercial and educational space should have visual connections to the outdoors.
• Engage with residents early through surveys, focus groups, or conversation to identify priority programs.
• Partner to deliver programs efficiently and avoid service duplication with local community-based organizations that are familiar with the needs in the community.
• Increase participation and uptake with culturally relevant programs that respond to local and resident cultures.
• Design flexible community space that can support a range of programs, with attention to storage, privacy, or access needs that may be required to deliver the programming.
• Track participation, satisfaction, and outcomes to improve programs and demonstrate to partners, residents, and funders the impact of partnerships and programs.
• Plan for long-term sustainability by diversifying partners, budgeting for services, and assigning ongoing staff support for coordination.

Network termination points must include:

• Conduit from the property line (expected broadband access point) to the utility room
• Conduit from the utility room through risers and/or other infrastructure that leads to the expected network termination points, to at least:
  • » One common space for Moderate Rehab projects with shared common spaces
  • » The expected network termination points in each dwelling unit and each common space for Substantial Rehab and New Construction projects

• Provide digital-skills training for the property’s residents, either directly or through partnerships with local anchor and/or civic institutions.
• Locate within 0.5 mile of schools and libraries, as these are often the first facilities in a community to receive broadband access through the E-Rate program described below.

• Broadband conduit would follow the same path as telephone and cable TV conduit.
• If broadband is provided elsewhere in your community, consult with local service providers to determine more precise specifications for the type of cable preferred, to help ensure that your property can connect in the future.
• Fiber connections and equipment are typically located in a dedicated electrical or telecom closet, often on a low floor in the building with access to riser spaces. In areas that are prone to flooding, the electrical and/or telecom closet may be located elsewhere.
• Power and HVAC services will be helpful if the service provider plans to install active electronics in the closet.
• In occupied buildings undergoing rehabilitation, conduit placement can be challenging. However, there are many alternative ways of making pathways for broadband infrastructure, including placing cables above drop ceilings or moldings, mounting small cables on wall surfaces, or running cables up the outsides of buildings into individual units. Fiber-optic cables can be very small, and in many cases the visual impact can be minimal.