Courses:

Revitalizing Urban Main Streets >> Content Detail



Assignments



Assignments

In addition to completion of the readings, students are required to focus on the questions below and turn in assignments on each due date. A sample final report (PDF - 1.7 MB) is published with student permission. (Courtesy of Darlene Gallant, Ursula Hester, Andrew Jakabovics, Jenifer Kaminsky, Ed Pauls, Zoe Weinrobe, Andrew Whittemore, Desiree Sideroff, and Jordan Karp. Used with permission.)

SES #TOPICSASSIGNMENTS
Phase 1: Introduction and Overview
1Introduction to Course

Urban Neighborhood Decline: Causes, Consequences, Challenges
What do the readings suggest about these issues?

What role do race and class play in decline?

What are your own beliefs and assumptions about urban neighborhood decline?

How do these compare with what the readings present?

Issue Assignment 1
2Introduction to Main Street Sites/Issues

Directors of Mission Hill and Egleston Square Main Street programs to present their district, goals and issues to the class.
What are the major differences between these two Districts?

Similarities?

What would you say are the major challenges facing each District?
3Physical and Economic Tools I: Urban Design - Ways of Seeing/Architecture

Economic Development - Theories of Retail/Identifying Retail Niches
Assignment 1: Davis Square and Central Square assessments.

Each team to make a 15-minute presentation on visual clues and how the economic theories of retail operate in the district.

What is the image of the district?

What are the compelling visual clues that support that image?

What appear to be the major anchors?

How important is convenience vs. comparison retail?

What market segments does the district serve?
4Revitalization Strategies I and IIWhat are the major strategies and their differences?

How do these strategies relate to the causes of decline?

What idea of revitalization is implicit in the strategies?

What are class and race implications of these views?

What is your idea of revitalization?
5Field Trip

Bus leaves 77 Mass Avenue at 8:10am sharp. Visit Mission Hill and then Egleston Square. Each site will be toured with manager and in topic groups.
Goals for day: Initial impressions, opportunities and challenges.

What would you do?

What can vision be?

Outline key planning issues to focus on and prepare preliminary outline for final report!
6Project DiscussionGroups to present historical overview of area.

Summaries of previous reports.

Areas for further assessment and research, elements for a revitalization plan, outline of key tasks, list of people to interview.

Who are the key stakeholders to include?

Who has been excluded in prior plans and initiatives?

Who is critical to plan success?
Phase 2: Assessment Tools
7Economic Planning Tools II: Retail Market Analysis and Economic PlanningGoal of class is to scope out the market and economic analysis plan for each district.

What work has already been done?

What do you know already and what else do you want to know? 
8Physical Design Tools II: StreetscapeEach team to present analysis of District streetscape, including an inventory of existing properties and businesses.

How does the streetscape contribute to or detract from the District?

What is the condition of the properties?

Can you describe the physical characteristics of the District in one or two paragraphs? 
9Economic Planning Tools III: Asset and Capacity AssessmentEach team should develop two lists:

(1) Key assets for revitalization (already identified) and potential ones to assess.

(2) Critical capacities needed to address your initial goals and proposed changes.
10Physical Design Tools III: Image and Neighborhood FormPresentation by each District Team: Elements that contribute to a sense of place, negative images, and proposals for change.

How do your changes benefit the residents/users of the District? 
11Egleston Square Team PresentationAssessment of physical conditions, results of demographic and market analysis, proposed elements of revitalization plan.

Team must submit a work plan and schedule for remainder of semester.
12Mission Hill Team PresentationAssessment of physical conditions, results of demographic and market analysis, proposed elements of revitalization plan.

Team must submit a work plan and schedule for remainder of semester.
13Synthesis

In-class Work - Proposals for moving forward
 
14Synthesis (cont.)

In-class Work - Proposals for moving forward
Draft chapter of Report - Inventory and Analysis.
15Client PresentationsDraft Presentation #1 to clients - initial findings, agenda for moving forward, confirm course of action with clients.
Phase 3: Policies and Interventions
16Policies and Interventions I: Marketing and PromotionFor each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present thoughts on key marketing challenges and a proposed marketing plan.
17Policies and Interventions II: Business Development, Retention, and AttractionFor each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present thoughts on key business development issues and business opportunities, attraction challenges and a proposed plan to address them.
18Policies and Interventions III: DevelopmentFor each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present initial thoughts on new development opportunities in the Districts and what should be done to shape the uses and character of these current and planned projects.
19Policies and Interventions IV: Transit-Oriented DevelopmentFor each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present initial thoughts on transit-related issues and opportunities and areas/plans for proposed actions.
20Policies and Interventions V: Design and Zoning GuidelinesPin-up: Areas for action regarding design and zoning guidelines 
21Policies and Interventions VI: Safety and SanitationFor each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present initial thoughts on safety and sanitation issues and areas/plans for proposed actions.
22Client PresentationsPresentation #2 to client - Areas for action regarding marketing, promotion, and business development, retention, attraction.
23Policies and Interventions VII: Organization and Capacity BuildingDraft outline of plan elements and summary of implementation requirements and Main Street program's roles due.
Phase 4: The Plans
24Synthesis - Ideas

In-class Working Session
Each team will seek to clarify and prioritize ideas and goals.
25Synthesis - Elements of the Plan

In-class Working Session
Each team will work with its list of goals to develop elements of the plan.
26Synthesis - Final Plan Integration, Key Findings and Themes

In-class Working Session
Each team will identify links between elements of the plan, describe key findings, and illustrate broad themes with clear, compelling graphics and text. 
27Presentation of Draft PlansEach team will have 30 minutes to present key themes and concepts of its revitalization plan.
28Presentation of Draft Plans (cont.)Again, each team will have 30 minutes to make a revised presentation of its revitalization plan.
29Presentations of Final Plans to ClientsClient Presentation(s) #3 - The Final Plan(s)
30Course Conclusion/Reflections 
31Final Report/PlansThree copies of the final report (PDF - 1.7 MB)/plans (Courtesy of Darlene Gallant, Ursula Hester, Andrew Jakabovics, Jenifer Kaminsky, Ed Pauls, Zoe Weinrobe, Andrew Whittemore, Desiree Sideroff, and Jordan Karp. Used with permission.)

 








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