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Full-Text Articles in Architecture
The Office/Industrial Land Dilemma: A Study Of The Blackstone River Corridor In Massachusetts, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
The Office/Industrial Land Dilemma: A Study Of The Blackstone River Corridor In Massachusetts, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
John R. Mullin
Local planners have often neglected their industrial resources and are therefore jeopardizing their economic base. There is clearly a mismatch between land zoned for industry and that which is suitable for development. Older areas are constrained by issues of compatibility, access, and environmental and flood plain issues. Greenfield sites are constrained by physical site characteristics, such as wetlands and slope, transportation networks, development pressures from other land uses and public perceptions and concerns surrounding industrial uses. Through this case study, this article analyzes the key factors that are influencing industrial land use decisions and provides recommendations that may be of …
Planning For Retail Activities In Small Downtowns: Towards A Pragmatic Approach, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
Planning For Retail Activities In Small Downtowns: Towards A Pragmatic Approach, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
John R. Mullin
Over the past twenty years there has been an enormous shift in terms of retail activity in our downtowns. The changes that have occurred have influenced where and how we shop, where we live and how we define the centers of our communities. As these have evolved, planners have constantly attempted to react and adapt. At times, they have been quite sucessful while, more often, they have been frustrated. What is most perplexing is that the shifts show no signs of abating. It is an exciting time to be undertaking downtown planning!
The University As A Contributor To The Local Economy: Key Thoughts For Local Planners, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
The University As A Contributor To The Local Economy: Key Thoughts For Local Planners, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
John R. Mullin
As we move into the twenty-first century, economic development officials are increasingly attempting to find new ways to "jump start" their local economies. Traditionally, this has involved, among others, finding appropriate land, ensuring there is adequate infrastructure, helping to train the local workforce, bringing financial institutions on board and assisting local entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to the market place. More recently, it has been also oriented toward ensuring that human capital is being invested into the community such that the local schools, recreation facilities, cultural attractions and public safety systems are all first rate. What has been too frequently …
Measuring The Effectiveness Of Downtown Revitalization Strategies, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
Measuring The Effectiveness Of Downtown Revitalization Strategies, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
John R. Mullin
Downtowns, the traditional business centers of our communities, have survived many changes throughout the last century. Once thriving retail and civic centers, they were adversely affected by changes in mobility, retail patterns and shopping habits. Since the 1960's downtowns have seen serious competition from suburban shopping centers, malls, strip commercial areas, major discount centers and on-line and catalogue sales. Despite these changes, downtowns still play a central role in our cities today. They are the centers of our urbanized areas and still reflect the economic core and image of our cities. A healthy downtown is often synonymous with a healthy …
Benchmarking: Measurable Indicators Of Economic Success, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval, Edward Murray
Benchmarking: Measurable Indicators Of Economic Success, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval, Edward Murray
John R. Mullin
All our communities are striving for economic success. Political platforms are built on promises of economic prosperity. However, we rarely thoroughly measure this success. Across the country people are increasingly interested in ensuring that government expenditures are well spent. We can note this interest at all levels of government ranging from local to national scales. As well, accountability, in all of its manifestations, is a critical element of the "quality movement" that is becoming acculturated in both the private and public sectors. This article focuses on how local economic development officials can measure and evaluate their professional activities in a …
The Changing Character Of Economic Development, John R. Mullin
The Changing Character Of Economic Development, John R. Mullin
John R. Mullin
This article lays out several key trends concerning industrial development that I have noted over the past ten years in my consulting practice and academic research. They are not exhaustive nor will they be reflected in all parts of the country. They do, however, point out that we need to continually adapt to the market place; we need to become more pro-active in controlling how and where we stimulate development; we need to insure that we provide the opportunity for industry to succeed; and, finally, we must be reflective of world events and the speed of change.
The Potential For Planning An Industrial Cluster In Barre, Vermont: A Case Of 'Hard-Rock' Resistance In The Granite Industry, John R. Mullin, Zenia Kotval
The Potential For Planning An Industrial Cluster In Barre, Vermont: A Case Of 'Hard-Rock' Resistance In The Granite Industry, John R. Mullin, Zenia Kotval
John R. Mullin
Throughout the world, there has been considerable interest among economic planners concerning the creation of industrial clusters. Efforts to stimulate, nurture and reinforce such clusters can be found in virtually all of the European nations, as well as in Japan, Korea, China and others. These efforts range from reinforcing the strengths of promising areas to stimulating the creation of totally new technologies. The identification of such clustering opportunities has become a critical element of national, state, regional and local planning activities. While there are many researchers who have focused on this topic, the Harvard Business School's Michael Porter has,arguably, been …
Assessing The Future Of The New England Mill Town: What Are The Key Factors That Lead To Successful Revitalization?, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
Assessing The Future Of The New England Mill Town: What Are The Key Factors That Lead To Successful Revitalization?, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
John R. Mullin
Over the past twenty years, we have been involved in economic revitalization projects in more than 50 mill towns across the state of Massachusetts. We begin these projects with a quiet visit to each community. Moving off a state or interstate road, we meander down through a highly dense village of multiunit tenements. Built close to the road, they are always a decided mix of well-kept and decaying structures. They are rarely one or the other entirely. It is as if the residents and owners are undecided about reinvestment or commitment to the community.
The Greenfield Versus Brownfield Debate: A Balanced Approach To Industrial Planning, John R. Mullin, Zenia Kotval, Maureen Moriarty
The Greenfield Versus Brownfield Debate: A Balanced Approach To Industrial Planning, John R. Mullin, Zenia Kotval, Maureen Moriarty
John R. Mullin
Across the United States, mill towns and industrial communities, the "brownfields", have been experiencing rapid disinvestment as manufacturing and service firms increasingly move to suburban industrial parks, the "greenfields". This locational trend has been intensified over the years by our policies and regulations for industrial development. Is this shifting balance a desired result of our policies? The authors believe this trend has had negative effects on both the center cities left behind, as well as on the communities which are being developed. Analysis of the "Greenfield-Brownfield" debate can assist economic development planners in promoting balanced industrial growth. This article analyzes …
When The Mall Comes To A Small Town: How To Shape Development With Carrots And Sticks, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
When The Mall Comes To A Small Town: How To Shape Development With Carrots And Sticks, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval
John R. Mullin
Across the United States there is a continuous expansion of population away from our traditional urban center cities. As people have occupied housing in these former open spaces, industrial parks and commercial centers have soon followed. While local planning boards have been able, in most cases, to handle residential and industrial growth, they are rarely able to handle extensive retail growth. Indeed, when a mall developer - complete with a multitalented staff and reams of plans - comes before a small town planning board, there is inevitable shock and a great deal of fear. In our experience, few small towns …
The Mall Comes To Town: Planning For Its Development, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval, Edward Murray
The Mall Comes To Town: Planning For Its Development, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval, Edward Murray
John R. Mullin
This article analyzes the impacts of malls on the character and economic base of a community. Based on both applied planning and academic research, it is clear that malls stimulate major changes in the community fabric. It is also apparent that community leaders who have a clear perception that their cities and towns have the potential to attract malls, and prepare for them, will be able to gain far more from their development than those that simply wait and see. The theme of this article, in short, is that a community either plans for a mall or it is planned …
Mature Industrial Communities: The Realities Of Reindustrialization, John R. Mullin, Jeanne H. Armstrong
Mature Industrial Communities: The Realities Of Reindustrialization, John R. Mullin, Jeanne H. Armstrong
John R. Mullin
This article analyzes the reindustrialization problems facing mature-industry communities in Massachusetts. The findings are based upon our planning consulting work and research projects involving forty cities and towns. The range of these communities includes those which have recovered, are on their way to recovery, and are stable; those which are declining; and those whose status is indeterminate. A variety of factors are reviewed, including unionization; work-force characteristics; the relationship between small and large plants; the characteristics of local companies; location; financing; the availability of land; and the role of local planning. Finally, we present recommendations concerning local action and possible …
From Mill Town To Mill Town: The Transition Of A New England Town From A Textile To A High-Technology Economy, John Mullin, Jeanne Armstrong, Jean Kavanagh
From Mill Town To Mill Town: The Transition Of A New England Town From A Textile To A High-Technology Economy, John Mullin, Jeanne Armstrong, Jean Kavanagh
John R. Mullin
This article describes and analyzes the economic transformation of Maynard, Massachusetts. Located twenty-six miles west of Boston, Maynard was the home of the world's largest woolen mill. In 1950 the mill closed and 1,200 jobs were lost. During the next ten years, the town gradually recovered as the mill became the home of several innovative companies. Ultimately, the mill became the headquarters for the world's largest manufacturer of minicomputers. The circle is now complete: the mill is full and houses a company that claims a "world's largest" designation. The article analyses the rise and fall of the American Woolen Company; …
Infrastructure Planning In Rural Massachusetts, John R. Mullin, Jeanne H. Armstrong, Meir Gross, Robert D. Yaro
Infrastructure Planning In Rural Massachusetts, John R. Mullin, Jeanne H. Armstrong, Meir Gross, Robert D. Yaro
John R. Mullin
This paper describes the importance of understanding and dealing with the problems of infrastructure planning and maintenance in rural communities. Infrastructure is defined to include roads, bridges, water and wastewater collection and treatment systems, and public buildings and capital equipment. The authors base their findings primarily on the experience of communities in Massachusetts, but these findings are readily applied to the situation of rural communities elsewhere in the U.S.A. and other developed countries. Three major conclusions are presented in the paper: the need for rural communities to develop long-range plans for infrastructure maintenance and finance; the need to develop effective …
Henry Ford And Field And Factory: An Analysis Of The Ford Sponsored Village Industries - Experiment In Michigan, 1918-1941, John R. Mullin
Henry Ford And Field And Factory: An Analysis Of The Ford Sponsored Village Industries - Experiment In Michigan, 1918-1941, John R. Mullin
John R. Mullin
Between 1916 and 1941, Henry Ford embarked on an effort to decentralize the production facilities of the Ford Motor Company. One component of this effort was an experiment in which he located seventeen small factories, called Village Industries, in rural areas throughout southeastern Michigan. These factories were designed to utilize water power in the production of sub-assembly parts for Ford's main assembly plants and were intended to provide jobs for rural residents. Ford endeavored to develop a sense of "field and factory" in these plants by training rural workers in the latest technological advances, allowing them release time to farm …
Assessing Economic Impacts Of Urban Recreation Development: Lowell National Historical Park, John Mullin, Meir Gross, James Palmer
Assessing Economic Impacts Of Urban Recreation Development: Lowell National Historical Park, John Mullin, Meir Gross, James Palmer
John R. Mullin
This article describes a pragmatic approach to assessing the economic impact of major urban recreation development. It is based on an assessment of the impact of the Lowell National Historical Park (LNHP) on the metropolitan area of Lowell, Massachusetts. This study was conducted by the authors in response to the National Park Services' (NPS) need to anticipate impacts resulting from the creation of a new National Park in Lowell. More specifically, the NPS requested an analysis of the likely impact that the LNHP would have on economic development, employment, land use patterns, and local citizens. The assessment was prepared under …
The Impact Of National Socialist Policies Upon Local City Planning In Pre-War Germany (1933-1939): The Rhetoric And The Reality, John Mullin
John R. Mullin
This paper is a review and analysis of the influence of the national government upon local city planning during the pre-war years of National Socialism (1933-1939). The paper begins with a brief overview of the critical aspects of city planning during both the Wilhelmian years (1871-1918) and the Weimar era (1918-1932). These aspects are reviewed in the context of their contributions to the city planning profession in general and to the German experience in particular. The paper then reviews the influence of ideology on city planning activities and follows with an explanation of the "state of the city" at the …
American Perceptions Of German City Planning At The Turn Of The Century, John Mullin
American Perceptions Of German City Planning At The Turn Of The Century, John Mullin
John R. Mullin
The German city in the late 1800's was a victim of many of the malaises that had struck earlier in the century in Britain and the United States. Rapid industrialization, improved transportation networks, and massive urbanization contributed to the creation of overcrowded, slum-like, disease-ridden cities throughout the nation. The long-admired medieval centers were increasingly prone to epidemics and destruction by fire. In a cultural-political sense, they were perceived by the ruling authorities as being corrupt, anti-volklich and centers of the much feared socialist movement. For the greater part of the century, the city had been neglected by both the national …