The word charrette is from the French for “cart” or “chariot." In 19th century France, art students would work feverishly to apply the finishing touch to a design, anticipating the arrival of the charrette to pick up their work.
Today, we think of a charrette as intensive planning session where citizens, designers and others collaborate on a vision for development.
Why organize a workforce housing charrette?
The WHC hosted its first workforce housing design charrette on May 6 & 7, 2010. The purpose of the event was to provide teams of planners and housing development professionals with a hands-on experience that offered the opportunity to test development concepts related to the charrette’s theme of “Re-use, Revitalization, and Right-Sized Rural”.
Team members collaborated to literally sketch out workforce housing developments that would suit sites in Exeter and Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.
The parcels were real, but since the process falls outside the municipal permitting process, the exercise was still hypothetical. The sometimes contentious “real-life” working relationships between the development community and municipalities fell away, promoting an honest dialogue.
Working together to design workforce housing, participants reflected on how local regulations could impact their “dream” development and recommended ways these impediments could be removed.
The workforce housing design charrette offers a unique opportunity to…
- Envision workforce housing developments possible under current regulations.
- Suggest modifications to current regulations to better suit workforce housing.
- Test the financial feasibility of design concepts.
- Exercise some influence over what might ultimately be proposed for these sites.
Who participates in the charrette?
Teams typically include at least one of the following:
Development professionals
- Architect
- Landscape architect
- Developer
- Construction estimator
- Soils/Water expert
- Engineer
- Banker
- Realtor
- Environmental
- Planning staff or consultant
- Regional Planning Commission circuit rider
- Planning Board member
- Selectperson/Council member
- ZBA member
- Conservation Commission member
The charrette occurs over the course of two days. Thursday evening, team members go on a site visit, eat dinner together, and conduct a public listening session. Friday is entirely devoted to envision opportunities for workforce housing! Team members produce detailed drawings a development budget. The public is invited to return for a team report and critique at the end of the day.
What are the benefits of participating in the charrette?
Municipalities test the functionality of their regulations and generate ideas for improvement.
“ After this experience, I would definitely advocate our right to waive and/or make less restrictive such regulations that might prohibit the economic feasibility of pursuing workforce housing.”
-Planning Board member & charrette participant
Housing industry professionals make new contacts and express their creativity for a positive outcome.
“I haven’t yet had the opportunity to develop workforce housing. This experience opened my eyes to the unique challenges and opportunities. I’m inspired to support workforce housing in my own community and will look for more ways to get involved.”
-Developer & charrette participant
What will happen with the charrette ideas?
While the WHC cannot guarantee any of the design proposals will move ahead for actual development, the charrette process offers a quick infusion of ideas and enthusiasm that could translate to action. While the WHC is not a developer, we will assist developers/towns interested in advancing a proposal. In this way, we act upon our mission to be a catalyst for the development of workforce housing.
