Assessing The Impact Of Permanent Supportive Housing On Property Values In Richmond, Virginia, Elaine Negasi

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The combination of affordable housing and supportive services in permanent supportive housing is a proven housing intervention effective in providing housing stability for people who have long been homeless, unstable, or socially marginalized. Virginia Supportive Housing provides crucial resources in addressing the root causes of homelessness in the region.

In many cases, opposition to permanent supportive housing is based on concerns that property values will decline. As a response to these concerns, this study will provide insight into the extent to which property values are affected. This study aims to change the perception of permanent supportive housing to foster community …

Transforming The Route 228 Corridor: A Safe And Connective Approach, Michael Boeh

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This capstone plan centers around the Rt. 228/19 intersection and surrounding corridor located in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. In spite of recent projects, the intersection continues to convey feelings of danger and a lack of safety. This redesign project will utilize SketchUp to demonstrate how safety and connectivity can be prioritized and made a reality for the Rt. 228 corridor.

Social Invention For The Common Good: A Community Land Trust-Based Model For Affordable Accessory Dwelling Units, Adelaide Alexander

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Executive Summary

Vision: High-quality, affordable ADUs address the housing crisis and foster racial and economic justice for residents of the Richmond region

Key Research Findings

Of MWCLT’s 95 properties, 80 are suitable for the addition of ADUs and another 6 may be suitable, subject to property-specific analysis and permissions.

Richmond now allows ADUs by right in all residential districts, so ADUs could be developed as infill projects or as part of subdivisions in the City.

In Chesterfield and Henrico, developing ADUs as affordable rentals will be most feasible as part of subdivision, rather than infill, development.

Estimated rents for a …

Growth In Appalachia: Downtown Revitalization Strategies For Covington, Virginia, Tucker L. Keener

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan was created for the City of Covington, Virginia which is located in the Western part of the state in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This plan aims to identify the goals and desires of local community members and business owners that prioritize economic growth in the downtown core. The City of Covington has many great assets, and the goal of this plan is to leverage these assets to assist with downtown revitalization. Recommendations in this plan relate to ideas of enhancing downtown, creating and strengthening anchor institutions, and create downtown as a tourist destination.

Flood Resiliency And Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan, Cigdem Parlak Hancer

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Health-Based Urban Design And Planning Interventions; Maximizing Harmony, Vitality, And Wellness In Hopewell, Virginia, Suzanne K. Yeats

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Urban planners as practitioners work to create a more progressive future while simultaneously redressing the past. This tension is found in many cities, including the City of Hopewell, Virginia where city planners, managers, economic developers work passionately for positive change. In Hopewell, there has been almost no population growth since 1970 and existing health outcomes are alarming. In every determinant of health category (medical, psychological, or social), this city falls below the state and national average. This health-based urban design and planning intervention capstone challenges the status quo by flipping the paradigm and placing the health of all residents first …

Anticipating The Fall Line: A Plan For Equitable Trail-Oriented Development On Commerce Road, Eric King

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Once completed, the Fall Line trail will provide a 43-mile active transportation route through Central Virginia from Ashland to Petersburg. Three miles of the trail’s alignment follow Commerce Road in Richmond’s Southside. As Manchester continues to undergo rapid change, trail-oriented development (TrOD) offers an opportunity to accommodate growth and transform the industrial corridor into a mixed-use destination as envisioned by the city’s master plan. While TrOD within the study area represents both economic and community development, relatively low residential property values and median incomes within surrounding neighborhoods warrant proactive measures to mitigate potential displacement pressures. Drawing from precedents set by …

Tension Between Construction And Conservation : Dutch Gap Conservation Area Park Access Design, Colleen Campbell

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The goal of this plan is to create a site-specific design as well as investigate the best practices to use to aid in mending the tension between conservation and construction especially in conservation areas. This comes in response to legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2019. Using literature, expert surveys, and public input a design will be created to aid the public in accessing the Dutch Gap Conservation Area. Many challenges are present in conservation areas and this plan will help to address which challenges are most important as well as the best way to mitigate these challenges. …

Assessing Impact: Equitable Community Development, Rose M. Lewis

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan explores strategies to advance equitable community development outcomes and enhance the understanding of impact analysis to improve economic well-being and quality of life across the Fifth District. By examining historical and current community development practices, along with relevant laws, regulations, and policies, the plan identifies actionable recommendations to address systemic inequities and foster inclusive growth. Grounded in Asset-Based Community Development and Equitable Development Planning principles, the approach emphasizes leveraging community assets, fostering collaboration, and promoting cultural competence to create sustainable frameworks for impactful development.

To address challenges in measuring outcomes, the plan introduces the Community Development Impact Self-Assessment …

Plenty Of Room At The Inn: Strategies For Gentle Densification Of Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, Van Ness, And Forest Hills, Dc, Harrison M. Hyde

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This capstone focuses on expanding housing opportunities, through the implementation of Gentle Density, in high-resource, single-family neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. The tangible outcomes of this study were be: a set of design guidelines, proposed changes to the Zoning Code of 2016, and an analysis of the co-benefits of densification. The co-benefits analysis examined any potential changes ridership changes for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, as well as changes in the potential customer bases for local businesses in each neighborhood. These analyses were done for a maximum build-out Scenario A, a less dense Scenario B, and a do-nothing Scenario C. …

Expanding Equitable Housing Through Rezoning: Strategies For Land Use And Future Development Within Richmond, Kevin Costanzo

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This paper serves as a critical component of the City of Richmond's extensive initiative aimed at comprehensively understanding and reforming its zoning regulations. Focusing on housing market conditions at both municipal and census block levels, as well as conducting individual neighborhood case studies representing diverse contexts within Richmond, it draws upon primary documents such as Richmond's master plan (Richmond 300) and the Department of Housing and Community Development's housing plan "One Richmond." The methodology involves thorough documentation and analysis of neighborhood-specific impacts of zoning regulations, utilizing the Pattern Book as a foundational resource. The content encompasses an examination of urban …

Amtrak Staples Mill Station: Strategic Vision Plan 2023, Daniel S. Longest

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan proposes the replacement of the current Amtrak Staples Mill Station with a new facility designed to incorporate civic art, multi-use development, and fast and easy train boarding. Drawing on successful examples like Union Station in D.C. and Main Street Station in Richmond, this plan encourages stakeholders to adopt a strategic vision for the station and its vicinity as an asset to the region. An independent commission with equal representation from state agency representatives and residents would enact these improvements through a public-private partnership, including a transit-oriented development scheme for adjacent land.

Designing An Eco-Resilience Community In Brentwood, Washington D.C., Nadya Syazsa

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

As the world urbanizes at a dangerously rapid pace, this Professional Plan helps with addressing the need for urban resilience – the ability of a city’s systems to withstand and adapt to the shocks and stresses it may endure, such as natural disasters.

The purpose of this Plan is to design a network of green infrastructure projects (GIs) as part of establishing an eco-resilient community in Brentwood, Washington D.C. These projects are meant to be low-impact developments (LIDs) in order to minimize disruption to the existing fabric of the Brentwood community, yet still aid residents by increasing their capacity to …

Advancing Social Equity And Promoting Black Self-Determination: A Community Garden Opportunity Plan For Richmond, Va, Alessandro U. Ragazzi

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Urban agriculture provides a variety of economic, environmental, and social benefits. Recognizing these benefits, the City of Richmond administers a community garden program known as “Richmond Grows Gardens.” Through this program, underutilized city properties are permitted for use as community gardens. However, an emerging concern is the potential for community gardens to perpetuate underlying structures of social and racial inequality through displacement and social exclusion. Considering these concerns, this plan investigates the implementation of community gardens in Richmond and establishes a methodology for ranking existing and available community garden sites based on the social and racial demographics of their surrounding …

Design Enhancement Plan For Waverly, Virginia, Ankita Parekh

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Waverly is experiencing some challenges like population decline, loss of businesses, and losing the importance of its community. The primary reasons behind this are traffic, road circulation issue, and urban design and aesthetic conditions in some of the areas in Waverly. This plan address strategies to provide traffic solutions and create effective road circulation, safety concerns, and functional and aesthetical improvements by providing design recommendations. The study area for this plan includes the significant intersection of U.S. Route 460- Route 40 and its connections with Waverly downtown. The existing condition of the study area comprises the poor truck traffic situation …

Developing Agrihoods: The Context For Petersburg, Brandon L. Archer

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Petersburg has an extensive history of navigating through challenging times. From its inception, African Americans have played an important role in the development of the city, and today that spirit is still present. As evidenced by an extensive network of community support and stakeholders, the Petersburg Youth Farm has matured into a resource for not just the residents of the neighborhood but of the city as a whole. By incorporating some innovative planning techniques and building a housing development truly dedicated to community needs, we can improve lived experiences in the city.

By adopting the recommendations set forth in this …

Business Development Strategies For Main Street Petersburg, Claire E. Parkey

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to analyze the market conditions and identify assets within downtown Petersburg and the surrounding community, which informed strategies for revitalization to be implemented in phases over the course of five years by Main Street Petersburg, Inc (MSP). This plan is centered in asset-based community development and informed by the Four-Point Main Street Approach emphasizing economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization as the cornerstones of successful revitalization.

Downtown Petersburg is a prime location for community development and revitalization, but he revitalization effort in Petersburg needs to be centered by a strong organization. The recommendations in …

Disparate Flood Outcomes And Social Vulnerability As A Fair Housing Issue In Norfolk, Virginia, Molly Frey

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The purpose of this plan is to explore how social vulnerability and the disparate impacts of floods can be viewed as a fair housing infringement. This plan includes examining the current and past conditions of how flood risk management, housing development, and the natural environment have been operating in favor of or against socially vulnerable populations in Norfolk. These topics have been explored through stakeholder interviews, geographic analysis, and descriptive analysis. This project suggests an understanding of fair housing in which the equitable sharing of environmental risk and the benefits of its management, are integral to equal access in housing, …

Revitalization Strategies For Downtown Luray, Va, Trinity L. Waldron

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Town of Luray seeks a better understanding of its foundational challenges that contribute to off-season economic growth and development. This plan examines existing conditions to identify existing assets and missing linkages that can improve downtown economic development. Data analyzed through market analysis will provide information in examining spending patterns and business potential.

Trolley Line Trail Creative Placemaking Plan, Courtland Caldwell

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Trolley Line Trail is a planned multi-use trail along the historic Richmond-to-Ashland Trolley corridor. The purpose of this plan is to identify potential creative placemaking locations and installations to highlight the trolley's unique past and present. This plan sets forth a vision for creative placemaking by gathering community feedback, analyzing properties along the Trolley Line Trail, and making recommendations for placemaking and public art. Ultimately, the recommendations laid out in this plan aim to preserve and acknowledge the community's unique identity while creating a safe, accessible experience for all users.

Preserving Historic African American Cemeteries: Strategies For Richmond, Virginia, William T. Teeples

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Historic cemeteries across the United States are facing a crisis. These culturally and historically significant spaces have faced significant degradation over time without the means of preservation. Historic Black and African American Cemeteries have been particularly impacted by the combined negative impacts of weathering, vandalism, and development pressures alike. These cultural landscapes have the added hindrance of little to no access to the complex resources necessary for preservation and restoration afforded to most White cemeteries. However, many activists, descendants, and volunteers toil on saving these spaces from the onslaught of time and ensure that cultural spaces are preserved for generations …

Business Highway 29 Overlay, City Of Danville, Sean Clendening

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The development of a casino in the city of Danville will alter the city's economic conditions. This plan focuses on creating design guidelines and development recommendations for a business highway corridor that will be directly impacted by its arrival.

Windmill Ridge Park: A Sustainable Park Design, Sean Benson

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan proposes designing and developing a new park in Chesterfield County that will promote sustainability in its design and implementation, as well as provide a stepping stone to promote these practices throughout Chesterfield County parks. This plan achieves this by providing research, concepts, and recommendations centered on the three Es of sustainability: environmental quality, social equity, and economic efficiency.

Bowling Green Main Street Revitalization Plan, Amy Guzulaitis

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Town of Bowling Green is a historic, rural community located in Caroline County, Virginia. The Town is the pride of residents who enjoy the community and small town nature of the area. The Town currently has a small arts business cluster and sought ways to use that, as well as the Main Street Method, as a basis for spurring revitalization in the Town. Research Methods & Findings Today, the Town of Bowling Green faces challenges to its future growth and development due in part to the small market size available. Demographic indicators from ESRI Business Analyst show that Bowling …

Spatial Disparities Analysis Of The City Of Richmond, Virginia's Neighborhood Park Amenities, Molly Mallow

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Spatial disparities analysis of the City of Richmond, Virginia's neighborhood park amenities. Using both demographic data and in-person assessment data, neighborhood park amenities in 11 neighborhood park sites throughout the City of Richmond, VA were assessed to identify potential spatial disparities in the quality, quantity, and types of park amenities available throughout the city.

Chesterfield County Parks And Recreation Sustainability Plan, Kyle A. Gilmer

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Sustainability Plan seeks to develop a foundation for the first sustainability plan that will support the accreditation process and implementation of the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Master Plan. This plan focuses on long-term environmental sustainability practices, recommendations, park lands, and topics relevant to Parks and Recreation outreach and management.

The main goal of this sustainability plan is to address department needs for long-term environmental sustainability by analyzing current best practices from the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), benchmark cities with implemented sustainability plans, and others while proposing recommendations per the Chesterfield County …

Cruser Place Green Streets Plan, Neal Friedman

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Combining green and complete street design techniques leads to multiple environmental, social and economic benefits that often enhance each other's effectiveness. In urban areas confronting increased pressures of sea level rise, green streets, which incorporate landscaped features or vegetative areas to manage stormwater within the right of way, can be crucial pieces of pedestrian oriented urban design and multimodal planning frameworks that consider and plan for diverse, complementary transportation options. This plan works with the Colonial Place and Riverview Civic League as well as the Norfolk Preservation Collective to come up with green street design recommendations in order to strengthen …

Land Use Scenarios For Scottsville, Va, Christopher Warring

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Scottsville is an incorporated municipality responsible for its planning and zoning. The town has a small population and serves a larger surrounding area from the neighboring Albemarle, Buckingham, and Fluvanna Counties. As part of its comprehensive plan update, Scottsville can consider long-range planning options. Three scenarios were produced for the town of Scottsville, each representing a different development pattern and planning approach. Added dwelling units, additional retail demand, and total open green space were calculated for each scenario to compare each development approach through common metrics.

Each scenario adopts a different design approach. Scenario 1 follows existing development patterns and …

Housing Richmond: The Role Of Non-Profit Organizations In Increasing The Affordable Housing Stock, Anjewel Bland

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Exploration Of Brookland Park And Surrounding Neighborhoods: Exploration Of Race And Space, Kearra M. Bright

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This project explores how race and space have impacted the neighborhoods of Brookland Park, North Barton Heights, and Providence Park from the start of their development in the 1890’s to the present day. And how systemic racism has impacted these neighborhoods over time. This paper will explore this through the history, existing conditions, findings, and policy and program recommendations. And will aid in combating systemic racism and starting the conversation about what is currently happening in some of Richmond’s Northside Neighborhoods.