Urban Planning Partners, Inc.的动态

We're very proud to celebrate Dr. Huijun Tan, who defended her dissertation yesterday on the Effects of Physical Accessibility and Subjective Accessibility on Grocery Shopping Behaviors in Oakland, California. She just became the newest PhD from PSU Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University! The study surveyed 306 affordable housing residents in Oakland to analyze grocery shopping frequency, the variety of stores visited, and travel distances.?As Oakland and similar cities transition into the post-pandemic era, the findings stress the critical need to rethink public transit and urban infrastructure to adapt to changing resident needs. Addressing the intertwined challenges of safety, homelessness, and gentrification requires integrated strategies that fostered sustainable, inclusive urban environments.

Welcome to the Mr Jack Johnson Show _Building a Better Chicago: Ideas for a Brighter Future_ Chicago, the Windy City, is a vibrant hub of culture, innovation, and community. However, like any city, it faces challenges that affect its residents, visitors, and environment. Here are some ideas to make Chicago an even better place: _Improved Public Transportation_: Enhance the 'L' train and bus systems for efficient, reliable, and affordable travel. _Community-Led Safety Initiatives_: Support neighborhood programs that prioritize prevention, understanding, and community policing. _Sustainable Lakefront_: Protect and revitalize the lakefront for recreation, conservation, and climate resilience. _Affordable Housing_: Increase affordable options to ensure everyone has a place to call home. _Inclusive Economic Growth_: Foster opportunities for local businesses, entrepreneurs, and underserved communities. _World-Class Education_: Develop innovative educational programs that prepare students for success. _Vibrant Arts and Culture_: Support local artists, festivals, and cultural events that showcase Chicago's diversity. _Green Spaces_: Expand parks, gardens, and green roofs to enhance quality of life and mitigate urban heat islands. Let's work together to build a better Chicago for all! Share your ideas and let's create a brighter future for the Windy City.

As we continue #HousingFuturesMonth, it's crucial to acknowledge the profound impact of spatial injustice on our communities. Growing up in the 1960s and '70s, I witnessed firsthand how Black neighborhoods across the nation were systematically targeted and torn apart for urban renewal projects and highway construction. In my own hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, the construction of a new freeway fractured our community, displacing many and severing access to opportunity for those who remained. This history, shared by many Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, underscores the urgent need for change. Reparative spatial justice offers a path to confront these past injustices and design a more equitable future. Across the country, initiatives like the return of ancestral land to the Tongva people in Los Angeles and the housing reparations program in Evanston, Illinois, signal the beginning of a movement towards repair and redress in land and housing policy. Earlier this year at @PolicyLink, we announced our Spatial Futures Fellowship, which aims to uplift those dedicated to this cause, serving as the architects of a new America rooted in love for our communities. These changemakers are not merely critiquing; they are taking bold action to shape our collective future. #SpatialJustice #Reparations #CommunityTransformation Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gQhhVwdZ

STEM Entrepreneurship in action.....

Here's a nice Axios piece on ParkScore--and on the role of parks and greenspace in connecting people with each other, combatting loneliness, promoting civic engagement, growing social capital, strengthening communities, and enabling democracy. Trust for Public Land https://lnkd.in/gJqKCT-S

In New York City, four iron monkeys, once part of the decor at Riverside Park's Ten Mile River Playground, have been removed to a storage yard on Randall’s Island, a stone's throw from where Robert Moses, the influential yet contentious parks commissioner, once wielded his power. This action followed the resurgence of interest in a segment of Robert Caro’s 1974 biography "The Power Broker," which scrutinizes Moses' urban planning decisions, suggesting the monkeys were a racist affront to the predominantly Black neighborhood. The book accuses Moses of implementing urban planning strategies that discreetly marginalized African American and Puerto Rican communities, including the allegation that he designed low overpasses on the Southern State Parkway to restrict these communities' access via bus to suburban amenities and beaches like Jones Beach. The controversy surrounding the iron monkeys and Moses' broader legacy highlights a complex debate about urban planning's role in shaping racial and social landscapes. However, the article challenges the straightforward interpretation of the monkeys as a symbol of racism. It points out that similar decorations are found in a playground in a predominantly White neighborhood, suggesting a different intent behind their placement. Furthermore, the supposed shackles on the monkeys are speculated to represent the rings children play with in playgrounds, not chains. This interpretation is bolstered by the historical demographic composition of West Harlem during the 1930s, which contradicts the assertion that the playground was situated in a predominantly Black area. The discourse around Moses, including the design of parkway overpasses to potentially limit minority access to certain public spaces, illustrates the intricate ways in which infrastructure can embody and perpetuate social divisions. Yet, this account is met with nuanced perspectives that challenge the simplicity of labeling Moses' actions as solely motivated by racial prejudice. His contributions to New York's public spaces and infrastructure are undeniable, though his legacy remains marred by allegations of racial discrimination. The fate of the monkeys, amidst this reevaluation of Moses' impact on New York City, emphasizes the ongoing dialogue about historical memory, urban planning, and social justice. Their removal from Riverside Park reflects not just a moment of controversy but a broader reconsideration of the symbols we maintain in our public spaces and the histories they represent. #RobertMoses #UrbanPlanning #SocialJustice #NYCHistory #PublicSpaces #ThePowerBroker #Infrastructure #RacialEquity #LegacyReevaluation

For years, the grand Beaux-Arts building known at the 16th Street Station in Oakland has been left to deteriorate and accumulate graffiti. What for decades served as a transit hub and then later an event space, the history of the 112-year-old structure also intersects with local civil rights and labor movements, and with the 1989 earthquake that reshaped West Oakland. Preservationists have pushed to get the station restored for decades. And with new plans to develop 90 homes around the site, they believe there’s an opportunity and a need. City Ventures, an Irvine-based developer, plans to build 90 solar-powered, all-electric homes on the land surrounding the station at 1405 Wood St. The proposed housing, distributed across 10 buildings, consists of mainly two-bedroom townhouses along with some studios, one-bedroom units, and three-bedrooms, all condos for sale. The developer is also planning 1,500 square feet of retail space. the Oakland Heritage Alliance, a preservation advocacy group, is petitioning City Ventures to restore the old station building and seismically stabilize it. They’d like to see the property put back to some sort of use, whether as offices for community organizations, retail, or a performance space, and include features honoring the station’s storied past. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3KXUCue Photo by Katie Rodriguez

Today’s #MayorsDeskMonday feature is City of Berkeley, California, Mayor Jesse Arreguin, the first Latino and second youngest chief municipal executive in the city’s history. At age nine, Mayor Arreguín helped lead efforts to name a San Francisco street after activist Cesar Chavez, beginning a lifelong commitment to social justice. In fall 2022, he spoke with Anthony Flint about prioritizing affordable housing, improving city infrastructure, and combating climate change. “Are we a city of equity and inclusivity? If we are, then we need to welcome new people into our community and create opportunities for them to live here— people who previously lived here and were displaced, people who work here but can’t afford to live here,” he said. “And, obviously, there’s a climate benefit if people do not have to drive an hour or two hours to get to Berkeley...Building dense, transit-oriented development is a critical part of taking bold climate action; our land use policies and our actions to encourage more dense housing are really critical climate action strategies.” #MayorsDeskMonday is a series spotlighting the mayors featured in Anthony Flint’s recent book “Mayor’s Desk: 20 Conversations with Local Leaders Solving Global Problems.” Learn more about “Mayor’s Desk”: https://lnkd.in/eTwSqh_i Buy the book: https://lnkd.in/ezQJgTac

"Our new strategic focus is in two areas. We look at how can we really grow incomes and to grow our middle class in Detroit, and in particular, for our Black Detroiters and people of color, and all at the same time, how can we also create thriving and resilient neighborhoods that will attract and retain residents here in the city." – Ashley Williams Clark, vice president and director of the center for equity, engagement and research, Detroit Future City ? Detroit Future City collaborates with residents to envision a more equitable future, focusing on sustainable development and community engagement. ? We interviewed Clark, Sarah Hayosh, director of land use and sustainability, and Kimberly Faison, director of community and economic development, to learn more. Watch the full video below. ? #sustainablebusinessnetwork #sustainablebusinessnetworkdetroit #sustainablebusiness #sbndetroit #detroitfuturecity #southeastmichigan #detroit #sustainabledevelopment #sustainability #climatechange #climateaction #environmentaljustice #socialjustice #detroitcommunity #detroitneighborhoods #equity #economicequity #sustainablefuture