Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Responding To Foreclosures In Cuyahoga County, Interim Evaluation Report January 1, 2009 Through December 31, 2009, Kathryn W. Hexter, Molly Schnoke

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

Facing The Foreclosure Crisis In Greater Cleveland: What Happened And How Communities Are Responding, Claudia Coulton, Kathryn W. Hexter, April Hirsh, Anne O’Shaughnessy, Francisca G.C. Richter, Michael Schramm

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

Indicators Of The Metroscape: Foreclosures, Webb Sprague

Metroscape

A brief snapshot of foreclosures in the Portland Metropolitan Area during the May 2007-October 2009 period.

The Landscape: Forest Grove, Elizabeth Mylott

Metroscape

A brief look at the community of Sherwood, Oregon, highlighting its history, attractions, landmarks, and future prospects.

It's The Principal Of The Thing: Guiding A Rural School Has Its Own Trials, Susan Wilson, Tim France

Metroscape

The difficulties of K-12 education have become familiar to citizens of the metroscape, but they are usually viewed through the lens of urban and suburban schools, with their problems of multi-ethnic populations, crowded classrooms, strained budgets, and the like. Metroscape® was curious about the struggles and triumphs of the schools in the rural areas of the region, so we sent our interviewer, Susan Wilson, a Portland freelance writer, to Willamina to talk to a small town education leader in hopes of glimpsing the realities of schooling kids in that often overlooked setting.

A small-town principal is a versatile member of …

Understanding School Travel: How Residential Location Choice And The Built Environment Affect Trips To School, Yizhao Yang, Marc Schlossberg, Robert Parker, Bethany Johnson

TREC Final Reports

This project investigates issues related to parents’ decisions about children’s school transportation. This has become an important area of research due to the growing concerns that increased reliance on private automobile in school travel has led to adverse health impacts on children and negative impacts on environment. This study examines school transportation in the context of where families live and how families make decisions about school travel in the process of choosing their residence.

Using a middle-sized school district in Oregon State, we conducted a 5500-household survey and a number of interviews and focus groups. The study shows that parents …

Growing Zenger Farm, Turhan Sonmez, Elizabeth Milner, Stacey Glenewinkel, Kate Carone

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Zenger Farm is a working urban farm in outer southeast Portland, Oregon, that promotes sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship and local economic development. Currently operating on 6 acres of farmland and 10 acres of wetland, the farm has an opportunity to expand onto 4 additional acres of adjacent land, and has asked Ecotone to help maximize the potential of that expansion. Growing Zenger Farm is a unique opportunity to learn how urban agriculture can best address the needs of communities. Food security, community development, education, economic development and environmental stewardship are components of Zenger's stated mission and goals and are …

Harvesting Opportunity: A Strategic Vision For Farmworker Housing And Microenterprise In Washington County, Nadine Appenbrink, Raihana Ansary, Elizabeth Decker, Kate Mcquillan, Karla Nelson, Emily Picha

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Farmworkers in Washington County face stagnant incomes, limited opportunities and a shortage of affordable, quality housing. In this six month workshop project, Tierra Planning explored the connection between quality affordable housing and economic development opportunities for farmworkers in Washington County. We worked with stakeholders, regulators, landowners and farmworkers to identify barriers, opportunities and alternatives. Our final product was a "strategic vision" that included both general recommendations and recommendations specific to Washington County based on extensive research, outreach, and alternatives analysis. Our hope is that our work will spark discourse among local farmers, housing developers, and policy makers in the Portland …

Gateway Ecodistrict Pilot Study, Michael Budds, Erin Reome, Dan Schauer, Aaron Wilson

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Gateway EcoDistrict Pilot Study used site conditions, community priorities, and plans for future growth and development to recommend catalyst projects. The study’s objectives included raising awareness about the EcoDistrict concept, mapping physical and social assets conducive to an EcoDistrict, and identifying organizations interested in management of the pilot EcoDistrict. An assessment of opportunities and constraints to establishing an EcoDistrict in Gateway served as a corollary part of the study. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sumner Sharpe and Ellen Bassett.

Oak Grove Neighborhood Center Plan, Adam Bartini, Åsa Bergman, Alicia Crain, Carley Francis, Kathryn Mcgovern, Nathan Mcneil

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Foothill Planning worked with the Oak Lodge Community Council and Clackamas County Urban Green to create an Oak Grove Neighborhood Center Plan. The plan sought to foster a more livable and sustainable community by strengthening the Oak Grove historic business district and improving its connections with the planned Park Avenue MAX station via two transportation corridors, McLoughlin Boulevard and the Trolley Trail. The project articulated ways that these corridors can serve as gateways into the Oak Grove neighborhood and help to revitalize the community. Cognizant of neighborhood concerns regarding previous planning process, the project relied on community input to shape …

Willamette Park Assessment And Recommendations, Julia Babcock, Bernadette Le, Maren Murphy, Amy Rossa

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The vision of the project was to prioritize park improvements that balance the long-term sustainability and viability of the park with growing user demands. As a hybrid park, Willamette Park has a unique set of challenges related to its operations and management, as it is managed for both recreation and natural areas. The final report documents the process QPG undertook to explore opportunities and constraints in Willamette Park, and provides recommendations to guide the future planning of the park.

This project was conducted under the supervision of Sumner Sharpe and Ellen Bassett.

Connecting Students And The Community, Lynn Weigand

TREC Project Briefs

Nationwide, few university courses focus specifically on planning and design for pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Before this project, Portland State University had only one three-credit course on the subject, which did not provide adequate time to cover all aspects of bicycle and pedestrian transportation planning, policy, design and practice. Although the course provided a useful introduction to the topic and received excellent student reviews, faculty members saw a need to expand the curriculum to provide an opportunity for practical application of the theory and practice and increase the course’s academic rigor.

This project broadened the course offerings on bicycle and …

Pushing Pedalers: What Drives Bicycling?, Jennifer Dill, John Gliebe

TREC Project Briefs

Using a bicycle instead of a motor vehicle for a portion of regular travel could increase people’s physical activity and help improve the nation’s health. Over 60% of personal trips are five miles or less – a reasonable distance to ride a bike – and nearly 40% are two miles or less. Yet current rates of bicycling for transportation are very low, despite the popularity of recreational cycling. Given the potential of bicycling as a means of everyday travel, why aren’t more people cycling? Very little information has been available on the relationship between different types of infrastructure, such as …

Brew To Bikes: Portland's Artisan Economy, Charles H. Heying

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Brew to Bikes: Portland's Artisan Economy explains how post-industrial economic transformations have created a space for artisan enterprises to flourish. Dissatisfied with passive consumption, many residents of Portland, OR take matters into their own hands. Associate Professor of Urban Studies Charles Heying noticed these local artisans prospering all over the city and set out to study their thriving economy. Profiling hundreds of local businesses, and with an eye on Portland's unique penchant for sustainability and urban development, Brew to Bikes is about everything from bike manufacturers to microbreweries, from do-it-yourself to traditional crafts. A treatise to local, ethical business practices, …

Manufactured Home Parks: Norcs Awaiting Discovery, Andrée Tremoulet

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper examines manufactured home parks as a type of naturally occurring retirement community and considers the potential for adding social service programs (NORC-SSP) to enable further aging in place. An analysis of six focus group interviews with 48 residents found that the physical and social environment promoted a sense of safety and community, and that this housing option was an intentional lifestyle choice. Risks included the possibility of bad management and park closure. Manufactured home parks were found to offer an attractive option for exploring a NORC-SSP model that builds on residents' assets and community capacity.

Integrating Education, Evaluation & Partnerships Into Large-Scale Sustainable Stormwater Management Programs, Vivek Shandas, Anne Nelson, Carine Arendes

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Integrated stormwater management using green infrastructure shows promise in saving money and mitigating environmental impacts caused by urban development. Equally important are the potential community benefits, including better understanding of ecological systems, increased access to urban green spaces, safer and healthier neighborhoods, and informed residents that are equipped to take action to improve watershed health. As a partnership between the City of Portland Environmental Services, Portland State University, and residents of the Tabor to the River (T2R) neighborhood, we conducted a survey to understand the role of civic ecology in green infrastructure projects. The survey results indicate a high interest …

Roadway Not Improved: Exploring Temporary Uses And Community-Based Alternatives For Unimproved Streets, Leah Hyman, Al Klein, Rani Boyle, Katie Lynd, Emily Lieb

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Woodstock neighborhood of SE Portland is home to a high concentration of unimproved streets. Through conversations with the Woodstock Neighborhood Association and representatives at City of Portland agencies, LARKE Planning identified a disconnect between City street policies and residents' desires and concerns surrounding unimproved streets. Through Roadway Not Improved, LARKE is exploring temporary uses and community-based alternatives that will provide more flexibility to respond to the variations that exist among streets' physical characteristics and residents' visions for how these streets can or should contribute to neighborhood character and livability. Although the project focuses specifically on the Woodstock neighborhood, LARKE …

Reshaping The Planning Agenda, Heidi Guenin, Bob Kellett, Vivian Siu, Lindsay Walker, Jenny Weinstein

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Housing Land Advocates and AARP Oregon have identified that the participation of older adults in the planning process in Clackamas County is not leading to outcomes that address their needs. One potential barrier to advocacy is older adults' lack of understanding of the planning process. A better informed population of older adults will lead to more effective participation in planning processes and an increased ability to advocate for their needs. Another potential barrier may be the way in which planners engage older adults in planning. Through better engagement strategies there will be better outcomes. This project was conducted under the …

The Rhetoric Of The Regional Image Interpreting The Visual Products Of Regional Plannning, Alissa Barber Torres

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Rhetoric of the Regional Image: Interpreting the Visual Products of Regional Planning investigates the manner in which visual conventions and visual contexts of regional visioning scenarios affect their interpretation by urban and regional planners, who use visual communication to meet the technical and rhetorical demands of their professional practice. The research assesses Central Florida‘s ―How Shall We Grow?‖ regional land use scenario using focus groups and interviews with planning professionals, a corresponding survey of community values, and rhetorical analysis to explore the ―How Shall We Grow?‖ scenario as persuasive communication. The Rhetoric of the Regional Image proposes specific recommendations …

City Innovation Systems: The Metro Manila Experience, Aida L. Velasco

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

City innovations, as defined by leading Southeast Asian researchers in urban and innovation studies, refer to new or improved solutions that contribute to enhanced liveability, prosperity, and equity of the city. These may be technological products, service or processes; institutional or organizational developments; administrative or legislative policies; or socio-cultural practices that create a more liveable environment, promote better economic conditions, and produce a more equitable social structure. City innovations cover both social and commercial innovation.