{"212831":{"#nid":"212831","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Good Design Improves Health By Fostering Physical Activity","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EActive Design: Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing\u003C\/em\u003E is a new report that builds on the Active Design Guidelines published by New York City in 2010. The report examines strategies and costs for incorporating active design principles specifically aimed at increasing physical activity among children ages 3 to 18 years old in family-focused affordable housing developments. The strategies included in the report are based on evaluation of urban and suburban affordable housing developments across three cities: New York, New York; San Antonio, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is remarkable how easy and affordable it is to incorporate active design elements into multi-family housing development,\u201d said Jennifer DuBose, a Georgia Tech research scientist. \u201cWe believe that the detailed examples and cost information provided in the report give developers practical information that they can use immediately to promote active lifestyles.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201c\u003Cem\u003EAffordable Designs for Affordable Housing\u003C\/em\u003E aims to provide professionals designing and developing affordable housing with low-cost solutions for increasing physical activity in their developments through design,\u201d said Gayle Nicoll, dean of design at the Ontario College of Art and Design University in Toronto, Canada, who co-authored the study.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen implemented, the low-cost and cost-neutral strategies presented in the document will support physical activity and better health,\u201d said Karen K. Lee of the Built Environment and Healthy Housing Program at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, another co-author of the study. \u201cThe document provides opportunities for housing authorities, developers and designers to build housing units that support healthier living for the children and families living in their communities. This, in turn, is critical in helping us address the key epidemics of our time, such as obesity.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChildren in America, especially those from low-income populations, are disproportionately affected by health problems, including those related to obesity. There is strong evidence that physical activity is a key part of achieving and maintaining good health and that the physical environment of homes and neighborhoods influences physical activity and thereby obesity rates. Low-income neighborhoods are generally less supportive of physical activity than higher income neighborhoods, putting residents at a disadvantage health-wise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe designers re-envisioned each project with the objective of increasing opportunities for physical activity among children in a cost-effective way. A cost estimate is provided for each of the suggested changes based on cost data reference guides and historical data.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYour recommendations provide a toolbox for all housing developers to help create healthy communities that encourage physical activity for residents of all ages,\u201d said Trish O\u2019Connell, vice president of real estate development and acquisitions at the Atlanta Housing Authority. \u201cThe real-world examples and cost data reference guides are extremely helpful and provide the kind of information that developers will use when planning their communities.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAffordable Design Affordable Housing Recommendations\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELow-cost and immediately implementable strategies:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProvide stair prompt signage at points of decision, such as elevator call areas and outside stairwells, to encourage stair use.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECo-locate adult physical activities near child activities to encourage physical activity as a family value.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProvide secure bicycle storage.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProvide low-cost interventions such as playground markings to encourage active play.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProvide information boards about local physical activity opportunities.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrategies implementable in future developments with no cost or only minor cost: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMake stairs more visible and accessible.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProvide safe, visible and more direct paths linking shared common spaces such as lobbies and residential units to physical activity facilities.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJudiciously program outdoor spaces to accommodate physical activity opportunities without encroaching upon quiet programmed spaces.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProvide safe and positive recreational activities for young children, adolescents and teenagers.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAddress climatic restrictions on physical activity within the development.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore challenging strategies, but still possible if supported by market expectations and financial analysis:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EExpand indoor and onsite outdoor facilities to accommodate diverse activities for children ages 3 to 18.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENegotiate expenditures of development fees with municipal authorities to support nearby public physical activity facilities.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EActive Design: Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing\u003C\/em\u003E was developed through a partnership among OCAD University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and private-sector developers. Other agencies contributing to this document include the NYC Departments of Housing Preservation and Development, and Design and Construction, and the San Antonio Housing Authority.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWork related to this publication has been supported by funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Active Living Research program.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"New report provides low-cost and cost-neutral strategies for housing authorities and developers"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EActive Design: Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing\u003C\/em\u003E is a new report that builds on the Active Design Guidelines published by New York City in 2010. The report examines strategies and costs for incorporating active design principles specifically aimed at increasing physical activity among children ages 3 to 18 years old in family-focused affordable housing developments.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New report provides low-cost and cost-neutral strategies for housing authorities and developers."}],"uid":"27304","created_gmt":"2013-05-14 11:44:14","changed_gmt":"2022-05-26 17:09:36","author":"Matthew Nagel","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2013-05-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2013-05-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"212811":{"id":"212811","type":"image","title":"Active Design: Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing","body":null,"created":"1449180076","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 22:01:16","changed":"1475894874","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:47:54","alt":"Active Design: Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing","file":{"fid":"197068","name":"dubose_-_cover.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dubose_-_cover.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/dubose_-_cover.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5668176,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/dubose_-_cover.jpg?itok=7TvFapJR"}},"212821":{"id":"212821","type":"image","title":"Active Design: Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing  (2)","body":null,"created":"1449180076","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 22:01:16","changed":"1475894874","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:47:54","alt":"Active Design: Affordable Designs for Affordable Housing  (2)","file":{"fid":"197069","name":"skateboarding_possible_title_page_copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/skateboarding_possible_title_page_copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/skateboarding_possible_title_page_copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1692697,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/skateboarding_possible_title_page_copy.jpg?itok=H4_N9MXS"}}},"media_ids":["212811","212821"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/centerforactivedesign.org\/affordablehousingcosts","title":"Link to full Affordable Design for Affordable Housing Supplement"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.simtigrate.gatech.edu\/","title":"SimTigrate Design Lab"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/health","title":"The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/adg","title":"Active Design Guidelines"}],"groups":[{"id":"1221","name":"College of Design"}],"categories":[{"id":"137","name":"Architecture"},{"id":"42941","name":"Art Research"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"66261","name":"Active Design"},{"id":"18651","name":"featured"},{"id":"109","name":"Georgia Tech"},{"id":"11836","name":"Jennifer Dubose"},{"id":"169560","name":"SimTigrate Lab"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Media Relations - Laura Diamond\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Nagel@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}