Affordable Housing with First-Rate Design

Kaid Benfield examines a model 'pocket neighborhood' - Little Rock's Pettaway - which simultaneously improves a declining neighborhood, provides affordable infill housing and applies advanced measures for stormwater control.

2 minute read

January 15, 2013, 1:00 PM PST

By Jessica Hsu


"The project employs the 'pocket neighborhood' concept championed by architect Ross Chapin – reducing the footprint of a group of smaller, single-family homes by sharing gardens and amenities that would occupy more land if duplicated for each individual house," explains Benfield. Shared features in Little Rock's Pettaway Pocket Neighborhood include a community lawn, playground, gardens, street, and stormwater management system based on green infrastructure. The site plan places nine homes on a one-acre assembly of five parcels, which doubles the density previously set for the site, and the affordable pricing comes from standardized dimensions and materials. The design might be considered too suburban, if not for the fact that Pettaway is centrally located. Benfield says, "The goal is to bring completeness and ambition again to this once-thriving area whose proximity to downtown positions it well for a revival."

Little Rock's Pettaway Pocket Neighborhood has won many awards including a 2013 national honor award for regional and urban design from the American Institute of Architects. The housing project was a collaboration between fifth-year architecture students at the University of Arkansas School of Architecture and the University's Community Design Center. The students worked with an advisory committee to blend traditional architectural elements with modern principles. "For the pocket neighborhood, designers took resources typically found in individual private lots and pooled them to create a true public realm, something notoriously lacking in modern American residential subdivisions," says Benfield. He adds, "[Pocket neighborhoods] make a lot of sense now, helpful to conserving land and encouraging walkability for the growing part of the market that is not seeking a large amount of space."

Monday, January 14, 2013 in NRDC Switchboard

stack of books

Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023

The world is changing, and planning with it.

November 24, 2023 - Planetizen Team

Close-up of 'Red Line Subway Entry' sign with Braille below and train logo above text in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side

The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.

November 24, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

Diagram of visibility at urban intersection.

How ‘Daylighting’ Intersections Can Save Lives

Eliminating visual obstructions can make intersections safer for all users.

November 27, 2023 - Strong Towns

People walking on paved path in green city park with trees and tall city skyscrapers in background.

Green Spaces Benefit Neighborhoods—When Residents can Reach Them

A study comparing green space and walkability scores found that, without effective access to local parks, residents of greener neighborhoods don’t reap the health benefits.

December 3 - American Heart Association News

Aerial view of Eugene, Oregon at dusk with mountains in background.

Eugene Ends Parking Minimums

In a move that complies with a state law aimed at reducing transportation emissions, Eugene amended its parking rules to eliminate minimum requirements and set maximum parking lot sizes.

December 3 - NBC 16

White, blue, and red Chicago transit bus at an urban bus station with shelter.

Chicago Announces ‘Better Streets for Buses’ Plan

The plan establishes a ‘toolkit’ of improvements to make the bus riding experience more reliable, comfortable, and accessible.

December 3 - City of Chicago

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

"Rethinking Commuter Rail" podcast & Intercity Bus E-News

Chaddick Institute at DePaul University

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.