Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Cosmic Advice For The Young Planner, John Mullin, Robert Mitchell

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Faculty Publication Series

Last fall, two of New England's oldest planners were sitting on the top of Mount Monadnock when they were approached by a group of graduate students. After a brief spell of friendly conversation, several students asked the wise ones for sage advice on the pitfalls of local planning. With a glint in their eyes and a sense of puckish humor they started to outline forty ways in which a newly minted planner could short circuit his/her career. And so, in what they hope will be taken with a great grain of salt, they listed the following.

Mill Town Roots, John Mullin

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Faculty Publication Series

The end of the 20th century is a good time to check on the progress of the towns where the U.S. industrial revolution began.

Eastern Pioneer Valley Greenway/Greenspace Planning: The Applications Of Geographic Information Systems To The Regional Greenway/Greenspace Planning Process, Yongbin Sun

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Masters Projects

The public agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGO) have made major stride in acquiring, planning and managing of valuable public lands in Eastern Pioneer Valley Region. The nine communities of the region have recognized that they need to coordinate and perhaps integrate their efforts to increase mutual benefits from such integration. Indeed, these towns are poised to create a unique greenway network which could maximize nature protection, outdoor recreation and historic preservation.

The purpose of the study is to integrate each town's effort to create the Eastern Pioneer Valley Region greenway/greenspace system or network that links the nine communities, protects the …

The Economic Impact Of Housing In Massachusetts, John Mullin, Zenia Kotval

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Faculty Publication Series

Home building generates substantial local economic activity, including income, jobs, and revenue for state and local governments. These far exceed the school costs-to-property-tax ratios. Furthermore, balanced growth, the availability of homes that match the character of the jobs, plays a significant role in attracting sustainable economic development.

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

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Faculty Publication Series

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 …

Westhampton Business Development, Umass Amherst Center Economic Development

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

This report was meant to explore the potential for business development in Westhampton, Massachusetts and recommend alternative models for development. The project identified various models of residential growth and business development through research and analysis of business activity in 10 communities with similar characteristics to Westhampton.

University Of Massachusetts Housing Study The Economic Impact Component, Center For Economic Development

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

The Economic Impact Component of the University of Massachusetts Housing study aims to answer two research questions:

1. What are the direct and indirect economic impacts of the housing industry in Massachusetts?

2. What is the significance of housing as a factor in business location decisions?

The first, and primary, question was addressed through a quantitative assessment using the "Local Impact of Homebuilding Model" calibrated by the National Association of Home Builders, The second research question was addressed through a qualitative assessment of area development and site selection literature and policy analyses dealing with business location criteria.

Housing Equity Analysis Final Report, Center For Economic Development

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

the Purpose of this study is to assess the impact of discrimination on rental housing opportunities in Massachusetts. We obtained information on the numbers and types of housing discrimination cases filed in Massachusetts with federal, state, and private non-profit fair housing organizations. A total of 3,431 complaints were reported in Massachusetts from the period of 1990 to April 1998. Our findings indicate clearly, that rental housing discrimination exist in the state of Massachusetts. One of the major problems that we found is the fact that most instances of housing discrimination do not get reported. Based on our work, we are …

Providence Place: The Development Of A Downtown Mall, Center For Economic Development

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

This study examines the history of urban mall development in the United States and the role of such sites in widespread revitalization efforts that are intended to protect the city from further decline and bring it back to its once thriving existence, before the mass relocations to the suburbs.

Providence Place in downtown Providence, Rhode Island is the primary focus of the study which has three objectives. The first objective is to analyze the development patterns of suburban malls in the Providence region. The second is to identify the economic factors that prompted the development of a large scale downtown …

The Valley Of Innovation Springfield Biotechnology Summary Report, Center For Economic Development

Center for Economic Development Technical Reports

The Valley of Innovation is a new industrial region that is being formed as the result of recent technology transfers and significant growth in the biotechnology sector. The region includes part of western Massachusetts along with Central Connecticut and runs from north to south along the I-91 corridor, following the general borders of the Connecticut River Valley. The region extends from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, through Springfield, Massachusetts, and continues past Hartford, Connecticut, to New Haven, and down I-95 towards New York State.

Currently in embryonic form, the region has the potential to grow rapidly. It is nurtured …