May eNewsletter

Designing for an Uncertain Future

BY MARK SMITH

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt every aspect of our lives, at RVi we are coming to terms with the fact that the virus is also impacting the way we design community amenities. In early March, we were forging ahead with the design of amenity centers as though everything would soon return to normal. Two months later, it is clear the virus will not “just go away.” How then should we design a facility scheduled to open during a pandemic? Do we apply “normal” design standards and hope for the best, or must we craft solutions that assume social distancing is here to stay? The decisions we make today are sure to impact the capacity and usefulness of these facilities tomorrow.

Surprise City Council Unanimously Approves RVi Rezoning Plan for Sycamore Farms

BY ALEX STEDMAN

Sycamore Farms is a vibrant, mixed-use master planned community located along the 303 corridor in Surprise, Arizona. RVi’s project team has been involved with the property since 2004, and most recently went through a zoning amendment to the original plan. The planned area development (PAD) rezoning paves the way for Taylor Morrison's new Paradisi community, a brand new master planned, residential community located within the greater Sycamore Farms mixed-use development that will offer a mix of both single family homes and the up-and-coming single family for rent product type. The project amendment received unanimous approval from the Surprise City Council, setting in motion the next phase of this exciting project. 

Why Being a Farm Kid Made Me a Better Land Planner

BY DENNIS TONSOR

Over my 15-year career I have had the great opportunity to be surrounded by some tremendously talented individuals. Having grown up in a livestock/row-cropping family in Northeast Missouri, I can sense those who were raised in a similar environment, just like an incoming rainstorm. Most farm kids have underlying characteristics rooted within them, such as strong work ethic, general sense of ownership, and humility. The bottom line is that you must get the work done, so you quickly learn to be a team player and forget any sense of entitlement.

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