ABSTRACT
Although only idealism can improve the world, it can only start the process. Volume delivery is largely by those who profit. Chapter 17 seeks to resolve such apparent incompatibilities. As places emanate their founding values, ethical development increases appeal, hence profitability. Developers and their architects, however, have mixed motivations: one dominates, others’ traces remain. For durable win-win relationships, each must retain their own values but translate these into the others’ languages. However distasteful, this includes fluency in profitese. Developers must identify opportunities to fulfil local needs; communities to find profit opportunities; and designers, create place-moods that benefit both. Sustainable development’s economic benefits include reduced heating/cooling costs, infrastructure requirements and maintenance. Enhanced occupant wellbeing reduces employee absenteeism and ‘churn’. Strengthened community decreases crime, hence insurance costs. Shop viability ensures payment-assured rents, and reduced tenant-turnover. Together, this increases place desirability, hence property value. Such co-alignment of agendas is a powerful force for sustainable place-improvement.
