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MIXED-USE DESIGN 158 • SHOPPING CENTER BUSINESS • May 2017 see that new and intriguing residential concepts are not only on the drawing board, but are emerging into brick-and- mortar reality in mixed-use projects ev- erywhere. Some developers are includ- ing funky loft apartments (sometimes numbering only four to six units) above smaller retail buildings, typically along main commercial avenues or adjacent to park spaces. Townhomes "in the air" are also cropping up, with residential spaces laminated to the side of or placed atop of parking structures. The goal is to pro- vide a wider range of appealing lifestyle options and help densify and activate busy social and commercial centers. OFFICE SPACING Office space above ground-floor retail has long been a mixed-use staple. More and more however, architects and devel- opers are integrating distinctive profes- sional spaces that are visually appealing as well as functionally and even experien- tially unique. From renovated warehouses and historic buildings that retain some of their original architectural features and all of their original aesthetic charm, to funky lofts with high ceilings and larger floor plates, the range of new office options is both eye-opening and eyebrow-raising. Architectural features like atriums, com- municating stairs and skylights add inter- est and offer a different kind of product than typical Class A office. At a time when companies are increasingly cogni- zant about the importance of corporate "personality", and are looking for ways to reinforce their unique brand (in a com- petitive professional environment where start-ups and entrepreneurs are becom- ing more creative and engaging) one-of-a- kind office environments are an appealing option for many businesses. A LAST RESORT A hotel can be an outstanding addition to a mixed-use project. In addition to the standard limited service hotels, we are seeing more developers working harder to include upscale hospitality compo- nents: hotels that offer more of an exclu- sive "resort" feel with amenities like pool decks, rooftop bars and other highlights. In some cases, hotel lobbies are spilling out right onto bustling commercial av- enues, and third-party restaurants and streetfront cafes also provide access from the hotel lobby in a way that makes it all feel like one large interconnected space. These strategies amplify the social energy of both the hotel lobby and the adjacent street. PARK-ING SPACE Parks and public green space are a famil- iar sight in mixed-use projects. But today developers are finding new ways to acti- vate and utilize that green space, resulting in parks that are more than "just" parks. From concerts and classes, to celebra- tions and special events, parks are less to be looked at and more to be used. In the process, they are evolving from an aesthet- ic feature to an experiential highlight. ART: WORKING Art and artistry has been featured in a Keri Samford, Economic Development Director 972.624.3127 | edc@thecolonytx.org | www.TheColonyEDC.org A RETAIL AND RESTAURANT DESTINATION Over 8 Million Visitors Projected Annually to Nebraska Furniture Mart/ Grandscape Development A GROWING RETAIL TRADE AREA POPULATION OF 155,425 Median Household Income of $98,839 Average Household Income of $129,628 AWARD-WINNING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RETAIL PRIME SPACE