When approaching infill development or adaptive reuse, there’s an obligation to respect the context of the site and the history of the building, including the people and neighbors. You aren’t designing in a vacuum - you’re stepping into a community, and it’s important to be a good neighbor.
When any development project begins, it’s easy for neighbors to feel left out of the process. Some of them may have had no idea that the building or lot was even for sale - and the idea of a big change to a familiar place can be offputting. The best way to approach these situations is to be proactive.
If you’re thinking of developing in an existing community, or rehabilitating an existing building, being intentional about reaching out to the neighbors goes a long way. Not only for fostering goodwill, but you can also learn a lot of useful information about the area by talking to people.
Ways to Reach Out
signage
Putting up signage on the site with information about the proposed work, as well as contact information and any upcoming opportunities to meet is helpful because it allows people to see that there’s something happening there. Not everyone is in on Nextdoor or the neighborhood Facebook group, or patrols the Board of Adjustments agendas. Having physical signage is always a plus.
Be responsive! Once you’ve made the effort to put up signage, follow up with any messages or phone calls you may receive. Nothing builds trust like showing up and following through.
Meetings
You don’t have to rely only on the City to facilitate public meetings. Hold a meeting (or attend an existing neighborhood meeting) in the community and make yourself available to answer questions and concerns - just get to know people! Provide information on timelines, potential plans and ideas, and make sure they are well informed. Providing food at meetings is usually well-received as well! Everyone loves to bond over food, and it gives a little incentive for people to come.
Knock on Doors
If you’re comfortable with it, knocking on doors in the community is a great way to get some individual feedback and get to know people. Let them know who you are, why you’re in the neighborhood - talk to them a little about what attracts you to the location. If there is a need for re-zoning, or a special exception and the project goes to the Board of Adjustments, having the support of neighbors to speak on your behalf or provide a letter of support can go a long way.
Neighborhood Associations
It’s a great idea to reach out to neighborhood associations or other stakeholder groups and entities in the area. They have a good feel for the neighborhood and can help garner support more efficiently than you might be able to otherwise. In most cases, these groups are made up of individuals who the community trusts, and fostering a good relationship with them will help earn additional trust of the greater community.
Follow Through
Be genuine and authentic in your outreach. If you’ve promised the neighbors that you won’t block their views or cause excessive noise during construction, then keep those promises. Don’t mislead the community in order to get support and then hang them out to dry. Build relationships, earn trust, and follow through. If you want to continue to do infill development and work with existing buildings, a good reputation for working with the community is invaluable.
