The primary purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of family-recreation amenities to home valuation in Southern Arizona communities. Although recreation amenities have become a frequent addition to housing developments, little research exists regarding the value these amenities contribute to home valuation. The sample consisted of 600 homes in master-planned communities and 600 homes in comparable traditional subdivisions. Using the hedonic pricing method, this study examined whether the inclusion of recreation amenities provides additional value to homes after structural and locational characteristics were controlled for. Blocked multiple regression analyses were used to determine the contribution of both individual and bundled recreation amenities to home valuation. The results of this study revealed a positive significant relationship between the bundle of community parks, neighborhood parks, and trails located within master-planned communities and home valuation, accounting for 17.45% of home value in this sample. In addition, the inclusion of family-recreation programming was found to contribute 6.82% of home value within master-planned communities. The findings suggest the inclusion of recreation amenities may be an appropriate way to revitalize communities, to increase the tax base for new housing developments, and to attract residents during a time of economic recession.

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The problem addressed in this research is that large-scale estate developments in the Western Cape generally have, up to now, apparently not fulfilled their potential as primary economic drivers, thus, failing to contribute in a significant manner to addressing the primary challenges facing the present-day South Africa, namely poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. This research focused on the recently-formulated project-based Sustainable Development Initiative (SDI) approach as a strategy to optimally unlock the potential benefits of largescale development as a primary economic driver. In the research, the potential of the SDI approach in this regard was tested by comparing the envisaged performance of an SDI to be implemented in the Hoogekraal area near George in the South Cape with the performance of five selected large-scale estate developments that have been planned and developed in terms of the ‘conventional’ approach as it was defined for this research. The over-arching purpose of the research was to determine whether the project-based SDI approach, as demonstrated by the pre-development condition of the proposed Hoogekraal SDI, could make a meaningful contribution to the alleviation of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation and whether it presents an improvement in this regard on the ‘conventional’ planning, implementation and management approach for large-scale estate developments. The SDI approach, in its current, conceptual format, does not profess to be flawless. The research has left a number of questions unanswered pertaining to, in particular, the mobilisation, involvement, and required participation capacity of the communities that would be affected by an SDI. The research has indicated that the proponents of the SDI approach still have a long way to go to bridge the divergent views and evident opposition against large-scale estate development of conservation-orientated NGOs and community groups, and factions within government departments. However, the research has indicated that the SDI approach holds the promise to be an innovative strategy through which the benefits of large-scale development could be optimised for both people and the environment. The SDI approach, at least, represents an honest response to the national goals for sustainable development put forward in, amongst others, the South African Constitution. It is therefore concluded that there is merit in the claim of the SDI proponents that the SDI approach to large-scale development presents, to a larger extent than the ‘conventional’ approach, a mechanism through which this development typology can contribute to the eradication of poverty, inequality and environmental rehabilitation in partnership with local communities and other stakeholders. It is believed that this research can contribute as: a) an input in the drafting of regional and municipal development policy aimed at promoting sustainable development, for example, the spatial development frameworks prepared by municipalities in terms of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 (South Africa 2000); b) a basis for the planning and implementation of large-scale estate developments in a manner that would, on balance, improve the state of any given condition in a sustainable, integrated, holistic and practical manner and in partnership with those who would be affected by the developments and those who support the ethos of sustainable development; and c) a basis for further research pertaining to the implementation and long-term management of the SDI approach at the project level, the objective being to promote the continual improvement of the approach.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

The purpose of this creative project was to develop a conceptual landscape plan for integrating residential development on an historically significant property, located at North Bend, Ohio, known as "Aston." The plan, designating areas suitable for residential development, was designed so that most of the features and elements of the property that defined its historic character were not destroyed or, at least, not unreasonably compromised. Priority was also placed on protecting the aesthetic and environmental qualities of the site. An inventory of the existing physical attributes (soil and bedrock geology, surface hydrology, topography, structures and other built features, etc.) of the property was conducted focusing on identification of historically significant elements. Additionally, written and photographic documentation established the general historic character and appearance of the property and identified important features that were no longer present in the current landscape. The documentation of the history of the property and its historic features was presented in narrative form (supported by historic and current photographs) in this study. It is probable that further documentation of this significant property is unlikely to occur since it is presently owned by a development company. The two areas of the property that were found to contain concentrations of historic resources (structures, drives, vegetation, walls, ponds, etc.) were designated as "Historic Core Areas" for preservation. Another area where the Ohio Department of Natural Resources had discovered a population of an endangered plant species was also withdrawn for preservation. Based on the implications of the physical attributes of the property, further areas were designated as unsuitable for development and will function as open "greenspaces" for the proposed community. The remaining acreage of the property constituted the areas designated as suitable for residential development. In these areas, the suggested road layout, lot sizes, siting of condominiums or housing structures, and pedestrian trails were designed. Finally, recommendations for guiding the more detailed design of the architectural and landscape architectural elements of the proposed residential development were presented. This completed creative project presents a suggestion for how modem residential development may be accommodated without substantially destroying the documented historic, environmental and aesthetic values of this significant property. / Department of Landscape Architecture

Esta dissertação busca compreender o processo de produção do espaço urbano através de \"comunidades planejadas\" promovidas pelo mercado imobiliário (setor privado) no Brasil. Conhecidas também como \"bairros estruturados\", tratam-se de projetos urbanísticos de grande dimensão, sendo loteamentos abertos, variando de 75 até 1000 hectares. Na verdade, nada mais são do que expansões urbanas desenvolvidas e implantadas diretamente pelo setor privado, sempre com aval e incentivo do setor público, tendo como foco o consumidor de renda média e média alta. Para tal análise, foram selecionados dois projetos em estado avançado de implantação: Cidade Criativa Pedra Branca, no Estado de Santa Catarina e Granja Marileusa, no Estado de Minas Gerais. Estes projetos se localizam próximos às franjas urbanas e se constituem em áreas de expansão destes municípios, sendo que o Estado atua apenas como sancionador, deixando a cargo do incorporador a concepção do empreendimento. As análises realizadas focaram em grandes temas: a visão socioeconômica em que estes projetos surgiriam como deslocamento temporal do capital excedente para o mercado imobiliário; a criação da imagem da cidade através de conceitos de marketing fortemente ancorados nos conceitos de cidade ideal; as novas formas urbanas opostas aos conceitos modernistas de cidade e suas características pós-modernas ou contemporâneas; a pretensão destes bairros empreendedores em serem um elemento ativo, capaz de induzir o desenvolvimento econômico dos municípios em questão através de suas qualidades; a adaptação de ideais e conceitos internacionais ao território brasileiro com suas particularidades; a crítica de Rem Koolhaas de que, apesar de todo o esforço, estaríamos criando um espaço vazio de significado, o chamado \"Espaço Lixo\" (Junkspace), e que as formas isoladas não seriam capazes de entregar a prometida diversidade e dinamismo almejados. / This research seeks to understand the process of urban space production through \"planned communities\" realized by the real estate market (private sector) in Brazil. Also known as \"structured neighborhoods\", they are large sized urban developments, not gated, ranging from 75 to 1000 hectares. In fact, they are nothing more than urban expansions developed and implemented directly by the private sector, always with the endorsement and encouragement of the public sector, focused on the middle and upper middle income customers. Two projects in an advanced stage of implementation have been selected for this analysis: Cidade Criativa Pedra Branca, in the State of Santa Catarina and Granja Marileusa, in the State of Minas Gerais. These projects are located close to the urban fringe and constitute areas of urban expansion of these municipalities. The public sector only acts as a sanctioner, leaving to the developer the complete master plan of the development. This analysis focused on these main themes: the socioeconomic vision in which these projects would appear as a temporary displacement of surplus capital that migrates to the real estate market; the creation of the city image through marketing strongly anchored in the ideal city concept; the new urban forms opposed to the modernist concepts of cities and its postmodern or contemporary characteristics; the intention of these entrepreneurial neighborhoods to be an active element, capable of inducing economic development to the municipalities where they are located through their qualities; the adaptation of international ideas and concepts to the Brazilian territory with its particularities; Rem Koolhaas\'s criticism that despite all the effort we would be creating an space empty of meaning, the so-called junkspace, and that isolated forms would not be able to deliver the promised diversity and desired dynamism.

Esta dissertação busca compreender o processo de produção do espaço urbano através de \"comunidades planejadas\" promovidas pelo mercado imobiliário (setor privado) no Brasil. Conhecidas também como \"bairros estruturados\", tratam-se de projetos urbanísticos de grande dimensão, sendo loteamentos abertos, variando de 75 até 1000 hectares. Na verdade, nada mais são do que expansões urbanas desenvolvidas e implantadas diretamente pelo setor privado, sempre com aval e incentivo do setor público, tendo como foco o consumidor de renda média e média alta. Para tal análise, foram selecionados dois projetos em estado avançado de implantação: Cidade Criativa Pedra Branca, no Estado de Santa Catarina e Granja Marileusa, no Estado de Minas Gerais. Estes projetos se localizam próximos às franjas urbanas e se constituem em áreas de expansão destes municípios, sendo que o Estado atua apenas como sancionador, deixando a cargo do incorporador a concepção do empreendimento. As análises realizadas focaram em grandes temas: a visão socioeconômica em que estes projetos surgiriam como deslocamento temporal do capital excedente para o mercado imobiliário; a criação da imagem da cidade através de conceitos de marketing fortemente ancorados nos conceitos de cidade ideal; as novas formas urbanas opostas aos conceitos modernistas de cidade e suas características pós-modernas ou contemporâneas; a pretensão destes bairros empreendedores em serem um elemento ativo, capaz de induzir o desenvolvimento econômico dos municípios em questão através de suas qualidades; a adaptação de ideais e conceitos internacionais ao território brasileiro com suas particularidades; a crítica de Rem Koolhaas de que, apesar de todo o esforço, estaríamos criando um espaço vazio de significado, o chamado \"Espaço Lixo\" (Junkspace), e que as formas isoladas não seriam capazes de entregar a prometida diversidade e dinamismo almejados. / This research seeks to understand the process of urban space production through \"planned communities\" realized by the real estate market (private sector) in Brazil. Also known as \"structured neighborhoods\", they are large sized urban developments, not gated, ranging from 75 to 1000 hectares. In fact, they are nothing more than urban expansions developed and implemented directly by the private sector, always with the endorsement and encouragement of the public sector, focused on the middle and upper middle income customers. Two projects in an advanced stage of implementation have been selected for this analysis: Cidade Criativa Pedra Branca, in the State of Santa Catarina and Granja Marileusa, in the State of Minas Gerais. These projects are located close to the urban fringe and constitute areas of urban expansion of these municipalities. The public sector only acts as a sanctioner, leaving to the developer the complete master plan of the development. This analysis focused on these main themes: the socioeconomic vision in which these projects would appear as a temporary displacement of surplus capital that migrates to the real estate market; the creation of the city image through marketing strongly anchored in the ideal city concept; the new urban forms opposed to the modernist concepts of cities and its postmodern or contemporary characteristics; the intention of these entrepreneurial neighborhoods to be an active element, capable of inducing economic development to the municipalities where they are located through their qualities; the adaptation of international ideas and concepts to the Brazilian territory with its particularities; Rem Koolhaas\'s criticism that despite all the effort we would be creating an space empty of meaning, the so-called junkspace, and that isolated forms would not be able to deliver the promised diversity and desired dynamism.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The housing estates boom was and is a result of the Southeast Asia economic growth after the economic crisis between 1997 and 1998. Housing estates, especially in the suburbs of Bangkok, are designed by considering only aesthetics and costs without considering the negative effects that might occur to the occupants and nature. These negative effects lead to the insufficiency energy crisis.Determining how to reduce the energy used and increase the living quality in the building type is the critical question for architects to answer. Redesigning the housing estate using sustainable design concepts, especially with a focus on the natural ventilation and shading device strategies, can lift up the occupants' living quality because such design can provide cross ventilation through the house and solar shading to reduce the heat gain in the house. Not only would such design improvements make houses more comfortable for inhabitants, they also would reduce the energy use.The methodologies of research start with spatial analyses to define the general character of this type of house, then the redesigning of a selected existing house is used to focus on natural ventilation and shading devices design in order to improve the occupants living quality and to reduce the energy used in the house. It is hoped that this project can be the first step for other architects to understand the logic of natural ventilation and shading control design strategies within the realm of sustainability. / Department of Architecture

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In terms of the Constitution (108 of 1996) provinces are given the responsibility for planning. Following the history of provincial planning it can be seen that the context of spatial planning have changed dramatically. This can be linked to changes in planning theory. The legal and policy environment for provincial planning have been shaped by different national departments concerned with planning. The Development Facilitation Act (67 of 1995) a key piece of legislation moved towards a normative based system for planning. Provinces were given the opportunity to introduce provincial specific legislation for planning. Since 1994 only four provinces the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu- Natal have introduced Acts or Bills. To assist the remaining five provinces in introducing province specific planning legislation it is important to establish if the different systems are moving towards conformity. Through analysis of the different systems, mechanisms and institutions, a comparison and evaluation of the different Act and Bills it was established that the provincial planning systems are to a large extent similar and in deed moving towards conformity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Provinsies is verantwoordelik vir beplanning volgens bepalings in die Grondwet (108 van 1996). Deur 'n historiese oorsig van provinsiale beplanning word dit duidelik dat die konteks van ruimtelike beplanning dramaties oor tyd verander het. Hierdie verandering kan gekoppel word aan verandering in beplanningsteorie. Die wetlike en beleidsomgewing van provinsiale beplanning is dinamies. Hierdie veranderende omgewing word geskep deur die invloed van verskillende nasionale departemente wat betrokke is by beplanning. 'n Toonaangewende wet die Wet op Ontwikkelingsfasilitering (67 van 1995) het beweeg na 'n normatief gebasseerde sisteem vir beplanning. Provinsies word die geleentheid gebied om wetgewing daar te stel wat handel oor beplanning. Sedert 1994 het slegs vier provinsies - die Wes-Kaap, Noord-Kaap, Gauteng en KwaZulu- Natal wette o fwetsontwerpe opgestel. In 'n poging om die oorblywende provinsies te help om hul eie wetgewing op te stel is dit van belang om te bepaal tot watter mate die verskillende sisteme van provinsiale beplanning beweeg na konformiteit. Deur 'n analise en vergelyking van die verskillende sisteme, meganismes en instellings, gevolg deur 'n evaluering, is daar bevind dat die provinsiale beplanningsisteme ooreenkomste toon en daadwerklik beweeg na konformiteit.