Architecture Commons^™

Preliminaries To A Feasibility Analysis Of The Maglev Proposal Of The Southern California Association Of Governments For The Region, Cornelius Nuworsoo

City and Regional Planning

This is a seed grant study to perform a preliminary investigation of the system components and generalized costs of the magnetic levitation type of high speed rail system that is proposed for the Southern California Region, TGV‐based high speed rail, and urban rapid transit with special focus on bus rapid transit (BRT). This technology overview summarizes the key aspects of these transit technologies and provides comparative cost information to feed a more comprehensive feasibility analysis.

Cultural Sincerity In Urban Development, Gordon Douglas

Faculty Publications, Urban and Regional Planning

This paper examines the role of culture in the urban development process. An abridged selection from an ongoing study of developers, activists and the politics of growth in Davis, California, it presents the case of the Target Corporation's campaign to build the first "big box" retail store in that city. I argue that Target's ability to win over the strongly slow-growth and anti-corporate community in a public referendum -- following apparently successful attempts to meet popular expectations of environmental leadership and the preservation of unique local character -- provides a clear example of how what I call cultural sincerity can …

What Is Glamour? The Production & Consumption Of A Working Aesthetic, Gordon Douglas

Faculty Publications, Urban and Regional Planning

I examine here how glamour is manifested in different places and among different peoples across Los Angeles, each with different histories, cultures and aesthetics. After initially defining the concept with reference to traditional understandings using the social and spatial history of Hollywood, I develop three ideal-typical categories of glamour (glitz as glamour, status as glamour, and grit as glamour) as heuristics for looking at the many diverse ‘glamours’ to be found in Los Angeles today: from the film industry to finance, the allure of haute cuisine to the chrome of Latino car culture, the manufactured spectacle of absurdist architecture to …

Ripe For Change: Roles Of Planners And Landscape Architects At The Interface Of The Land And The Network In An Alternative Agriculture Model For Upstate South Carolina, Jennifer Johnson

All Theses

Both historically and in select areas today, local food systems are the main food supply for communities. Despite the fact that they are not a main source of food for most Americans, since the 1970s there has been a resurgence of U.S. local food systems (Qazi & Selfa, p.161). The movements exist in places where high-profile and vocal personalities (restaurateur, Alice Waters; author, Michael Pollan; or activist Carlo Petrini) also reside. This thesis examines whether the viability of the resurgence in local food systems depends on the commitment of a single person, and if not, whether those who affect the …

Moving Towards Self-Reliance: Living Conditions Of Refugee Camps In Lebanon And Opportunities For Development, Dana Masad

Master's Theses

Refugee camps in Lebanon are harsh, continuously and rapidly deteriorating environments. In addition to poverty, numerous wars and the restrictions of civil rights, refugee camps that were not designed as a long-term settlement were made to accommodate their residents in addition to their descendents for a period that has lasted over 59 years. Since the establishment of the camps in 1948 the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have fallen victim to multiple wars and as a result most camps have witnessed major destruction of homes and infrastructure, and a few were entirely destroyed. Today, the planning and development of the camps …

The Reintroduction Of Heritage Streetcars And The Related Effects Of Community Identity And Social Interaction With The Residents In Streetcar-Oriented Developments, Robert Benedict

All Dissertations

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A Concept For Implementation Of Lessons Learned Capability For Presidentially-Declared Disasters, Charles R. Jennings

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Land Conservation And Land Use In New England: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities, Amanda Loomis, Tom Devine, Andrea Small, Brittany Howard, Brett Richardson, Stephanie Dulac

Land Conservation

Sprawling development patterns accelerated across the New England landscape in the last three decades and consumed the region‘s forests, farms, and open spaces at an unprecedented rate. New England‘ers in all six states formed land trusts, supported statewide conservation organizations, and collaborated with state and federal partners to protect some of their most-prized recreation lands, wildlife habitats, and working lands. The current economic recession has slowed development pressures across the region and offers an opportunity to build on recent successes. The time is right to plan a coordinated New England conservation strategy that protects and links the region‘s natural assets. …

Applying Environmental Policy Instruments To Used Oil, W. David Conn

City and Regional Planning

A comprehensive assessment was conducted of California's Used Oil Program, which was established in 1992 to reduce the illegal disposal, and promote the reuse, of used lubricating oil. This paper summarises selected key findings of the assessment and discusses them in the context of designing and implementing policy instruments for promoting environmentally responsible waste management. The approach known as 'community-based social marketing' is identified as a promising option.

South Burlington, Vt: Mixed-Use Comes To O’Dell Parkway, Ryan Neale, Brett Richardson, Richard Barringer

Planning

The proposed redevelopment of an underutilized property along major travel routes in South Burlington presents possibilities for infill development. The City of South Burlington, the developer, neighbors, and a variety of public and nonprofit financial partners work together to create a mixed-use residential/commercial development to meet a variety of housing and community needs. The case study describes the obstacles overcome to make redevelopment possible through zoning and regulatory changes, negotiation with local residents over traffic and other concerns, support from state and local housing advocates, and political leadership; as well as the development’s application of smart growth principles.

South Burlington Vt: New Urbanist South Village, Jack Kartez, Richard Barringer

Planning

The 220 acre master plan for South Village, the largest project in the City of South Burlington’s history, encompasses multiple housing types and innovative provisions for affordable housing. It integrates housing with open space and natural resource conservation, including a major Community Supported Agriculture project developed by a nonprofit partner, the Intervale Foundation. While not a mixed-use project (that is, commercial as well as residential development), South Village nonetheless represents a qualitative change in approach for South Burlington by incorporating large-scale open space preservation as part of development and multiple housing-types in one project. The case study recounts events leading …

Dublin At The Crossroads: Exploring The Future Of The Dublin City Region, Elzbieta Krawczyk, Paolo Ronchetti

Reports

No abstract provided.

Substituting Residential Rainwater Harvesting And Greywater Reuse For Public Water Supply: Tools For Evaluating The Public Cost, Jennifer L. Ferguson

Master's Theses

The intent of this project is to provide tools for public administrators to implement and evaluate the cost of an alternative on-site residential water supply using rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse in their jurisdiction. These tools are then applied to the city of San Luis Obispo (SLO), California as a case study to demonstrate how rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse could be implemented to supply all residential potable and non-potable water needs, completely replacing the current centralized publicly-managed water system. Further, energy and direct fiscal costs of the alternative system are compared with the current system. A cost analysis is …

City Of Patterson Sustainability Plan, Colin Brian Clarke

Master's Theses

This Master’s Thesis / Professional Project is a Sustainability Plan developed for the City of Patterson, California. The Patterson Sustainability Plan (PSP) was developed concurrently with the General Plan Update, and will be presented to the City for adoption within a year. The Sustainability Plan will help inform decision-making by way of its Goals and Actions for implementation to improve community sustainability. Before the plan was developed, background research was conducted that included a Best Practices Review to assess what other cities are doing to address sustainability, a Needs Assessment to evaluate existing conditions in Patterson and determine its unique …

North Ventura Avenue Area Plan (Draft Update), Rick A. Casswell

Master's Theses

This professional project provides a much needed draft update to the existing Area Plan for North Ventura Avenue (last amended in 1990), an unincorporated area of the County that falls under the City of Ventura’s sphere of influence. New goals, policies and programs have been provided to supplement the goals, policies and programs of the current countywide General Plan for Ventura County (adopted in 2005). The supplemental goals, policies and programs proposed in this draft update apply specifically to North Ventura Avenue, and account for a pending annexation of the area by the City of Ventura.

The overall aim of …

Specific Plans: An Implementation Tool For Downtown Revitalization. A Specific Plan Proposal For Downtown Delano, California, Emily Suzanne Henderson

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Specific Plans: An Implementation Tool for Downtown Revitalization A Specific Plan Proposal for Downtown Delano, California

Emily Suzanne Henderson

This study builds off the assumption that downtowns are socially and economically important to cities and the people who live, work, and visit them. For these reasons, many suffering downtowns are pursuing revitalization strategies. The strategies summarized in this paper represent mainstream revitalization techniques currently practiced by cities, planners, and developers. The strategies and techniques presented in this paper are supported by two case study specific plans. The case studies serve as model specific plans that were able to successfully …

The Influence Of Incentives Offered By Local Governments To Private Developers Or Land Owners On The Rate Of Brownfield Redevelopment, Erik Benjamin Simon

Master's Theses

Redevelopment of brownfield sites has become increasingly popular since the inception of voluntary cleanup programs in the early to mid 1990’s. Local governments have begun to offer incentives to private developers or land owners to offset costs associated with contamination and encourage the redevelopment of properties that are typically underutilized. Incentives may take several forms including, but not limited to, fast-tracked project approval, risk based cleanup standards, liability relief, tax breaks, and direct funding assistance.

This study investigates how incentives that are offered by local governments to private developers or land owners influence the rate of redevelopment in their sphere …

Santa Barbara Tea Fire Multi-Hazard Mitigation Benefit Cost Analysis, David S. Flamm

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Santa Barbara Tea Fire Multi-Hazard Mitigation Benefit Cost Analysis

David S Flamm

This study examines the benefits and costs associated with the outright purchase of properties for hazard mitigation (“property acquisition mitigation”) in Santa Barbara, California which reduced four properties’ exposure to multiple hazards. The results indicate that the estimated overall benefit-cost ratio for property acquisition mitigation projects is 1.75:1 when the exposed properties meet a threshold of eminent threat for total loss. This study further suggests that when property acquisitions are performed in an area threatened by multiple hazards the mitigation becomes two to three times more beneficial …

Determinants Of Risky Sexual Behaviors Of Kenyan Immigrant Men In The Us And During Visits In Kenya, Japheth K. Kaluyu

Dissertations

Kenyan immigrant men originate from sub-Saharan Africa with the highest HIV prevalence in the world. The study hypotheses were: 1) Attitude towards condom use differs between Kenya and the US, 2) Condom use behavior with primary sex partners differ between Kenya and the US, 3) Condom use behavior with casual sex partners differ between Kenya and the US, 4) Sexual behaviors with casual partners differ between Kenya and the US, 5)Age affects risky sexual behaviors in the US, 6) Age affects risky sexual behaviors during visits in Kenya, 7) Income affects risky sexual behaviors in the US, 8) Income affects …

Reinventing The Heart Of Community: City Of Forney, Texas. Downtown Redevelopment Report., Institute Of Urban Studies, City Of Forney, Texas

Institute of Urban Studies Publications - Archive

No abstract provided.

Interview With Ivy Dunlap, Bureau Of Environmental Services, 2009 (Audio), Ivy Dunlap

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Ivy Dunlap by Kris Thomason at Portland State University on May 23rd, 2009.

The interview index is available for download.

City Of Guadalupe: Housing Element, Cornelius Nuworsoo, Jeffrey W. Hook, Cal Poly Graduate Planning Studio

City and Regional Planning

The City of Guadalupe’s Housing Element is a major component of the General Plan that addresses adequate housing opportunities for Guadalupe residents through 2014. It serves as the primary policy document guiding local decision‐making related to housing. As one of the seven mandatory General Plan elements required by the State of California, the Housing Element is unique in that it is required to be updated every five years and its content is subject to detailed statutory requirements. The 2009 Housing Element Update provides a comprehensive analysis of Guadalupe’s demographic, economic, and housing characteristics as required by State Law. The Element …

City Of Guadalupe: Community Plan, Cornelius Nuworsoo, Jeffrey W. Hook, Cal Poly Graduate Planning Studio

City and Regional Planning

The Guadalupe Community Plan contains long‐term goals, objectives, policies, and programs to provide a basis for decision‐making and guide development. Designed to create optimum levels of services, economic activity, and quality of life for residents and visitors, these statements are based on comprehensive research into existing community characteristics, anticipated opportunities, and public input. Guadalupe must be prepared to respond to the challenges and changes that projected population growth will bring, and this Plan can help guide that response. This Plan is both a statement of purpose and a decision‐making tool. As a statement of purpose, the Plan consists of the …

City Of Guadalupe: Background Report, Cornelius Nuworsoo, Jeffrey W. Hook, Cal Poly Graduate Planning Studio

City and Regional Planning

This Background Report is an integral part of the City of Guadalupe Community Plan. It summarizes of the existing (2009) conditions of Guadalupe, California and describes issues relevant to the update of the General Plan. Thus, it provides a starting point for the Community Plan and a context for examining the constraints and opportunities for meeting the community’s needs over the next twenty years. In this way, it serves as the informational basis on which the goals, policies, and programs of the Plan are based. This information was gathered by students in the City and Regional Planning Department at California …

Activating Memorial: Rally Space At Christopher Park, William Fellis

School of Architecture - Theses

This thesis is an exploration of the memorial as a constructed place, as a program that portrays more, than a memory and understanding of historical, physical, and cultural contexts, but inspires a progressive action.

Green | Instruction, Christine C. Ritson

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

If society shows the need for a re-engagement with its surrounding nature in order to develop conscious environmental decisions, then a pre-kindergarten through fifth grade school, with the careful design and testing of materials, courtyards, and circulation strategy, will be the vehicle through which everyday decisions are taught at the earliest age.

Problem | Statistics | 20 percent of Americans go to school every day, equating to 55 million students and nearly 5 million teachers and staff. More than 25 percent of those students and teachers are going to school in inadequate facilities where their health is at risk.[1] …

Planning For Coastal Community Resiliency: A Case Study Analysis Of South Carolina Beachfront Communities, Ida Wood

All Theses

Because dynamic coastal processes and hazards threaten the resiliency of coastal communities throughout the United States, hazard mitigation and coastal management policies are constantly evolving. While various agencies throughout all levels of government have attempted to mitigate the impacts of coastal hazards, it is difficult for local communities to converge the separate requirements of state and federal agencies. Because there are many land use planning and hazard mitigation steps involved in building resiliency, this manuscript attempts to combine the hazard mitigation knowledge of a wide array of practitioners, researchers, and visionaries to develop a comprehensive land use model that integrates …

Attachment To The Physical Age Of Urban Residential Neighborhoods: A Comparative Case Study Of Historic Charleston And I'On, Jeremy Wells

All Dissertations

Purpose:
To counter the over-reliance of historic preservation research and practice on objective, expert values by understanding how people subjectively value and are attached to the age and design of traditionally-designed urban residential neighborhoods.
Research question:
How does the age of traditionally designed, urban residential environments affect the degree and character of place attachment for residents?
Cases:
1) historic Charleston, south of Broad Street, 2) I'On new urbanist development in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
Unit of analysis:
Residents of 1) historic Charleston and 2) I'On.
Methodology (methods):
Sequential mixed-method: phenomenology (interviews) followed by a survey methodology (on-line survey instrument); both …

Organization By Form: Applying Systems Theory To Urbanization, Michael Patrick Howe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

I have come to believe that the core of our declining physical, mental and community health dwells in the current practice of land use based development. Although today's land use codes began as a legitimate response to protect people's health and welfare it has since devolved into an unsustainable process. The failure of land-use zoning is rooted in an informational disconnect created by the segregation of land into distinct uses while offering generic design standards. Whereas the current mode of land use-based zoning results in an unpredictable physical form, Form-Based Codes foster a connection between the individual to the available …

Dispurbia, Daniel Kimicata

Architecture Thesis Prep

"This thesis aims to produce an architectural response to sprawl in the United States without privileging either the traditional city or the exurb. The project rejects the notion that the exurb is separate from the city and therefore looks to produce a response informed through an analysis of the urban condition in general."