Readings

A downloadable version of readings by sessions is available here (PDF).

SES # TOPICS READINGS
Phase 1: Introduction and Overview
1

Introduction to Course

Urban Neighborhood Decline: Causes, Consequences, Challenges

Zielenbach, Sean. The Art of Revitalization. New York: Garland Publishing, 2000, chapter 5, pp. 133-174. ISBN: 0815335989.

Keating, W. Dennis, and Janet Smith. “Neighborhoods in Transition.” Chapter 2 in Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods. Edited by W. Dennis Keating, Norman Krumholz, and Philip Star. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 1996, pp. 24-38. ISBN: 0700607897.

Barnett, Jonathan. “How the Metropolis Split Apart.” Chapter 5 in The Fractured Metropolis. Boulder, CO: Westview Press (Icon Editions), pp. 95-118. ISBN: 0064302229.

2

Introduction to Main Street Sites/Issues

Directors of Mission Hill and Egleston Square Main Street programs to present their district, goals and issues to the class.

National Trust for Historic Preservation. Revitalizing Urban Main Street. (Unpublished document)

Mission Hill Main Streets Application.

Egleston Square Main Streets Application.

Seidman, Karl F., and Alexandra Stroud. “Case Studies of Urban Main Street Programs.” In A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementing Urban Main Streets. Vol. 2. pp. 40-57.

3

Physical and Economic Tools I: Urban Design - Ways of Seeing/Architecture

Economic Development - Theories of Retail/Identifying Retail Niches

Jacobs, Allan. “Clues” and “Seeing Change.” In Looking at Cities. pp. 30-83, and 99-107.

Waxman, Andy. “Utilizing Economic Theories of Retail to Revitalize Inner-City Neighborhood Business Districts: The Case of Upham’s Corner Main Streets.” Chapters 4 and 6, pp. 38-51 and 65-79.

4 Revitalization Strategies I and II

Zielenbach, Sean. The Art of Revitalization. New York: Garland Publishing, 2000, chapter 2, pp. 23-32.

Moe, Richard, and Carter Wilkie. Changing Place: Rebuilding Community in the Age of Sprawl. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1997, chapter 4, pp. 100-141.

Seidman, Karl F. “Inner City Commercial Revitalization: A Literature Review.” Unpublished draft report, June 2002, pp. 9-30.

5

Field Trip

Bus leaves 77 Mass Avenue at 8:10am sharp. Visit Mission Hill and then Egleston Square. Each site will be toured with manager and in topic groups.

 
6 Project Discussion Review various master plans and revitalization plans on reserve in Rotch Library. Take particular note of the scope of each project, the methodology used, the elements of the plan, and the level of detail offered.
Phase 2: Assessment Tools
7 Economic Planning Tools II: Retail Market Analysis and Economic Planning

National Trust of Historic Preservation, National Main Street Center, Hyde Park Market Analysis Report.

Karl F. Seidman Consulting Services and Mt. Auburn Associates. Brattleboro Market Analysis Report.

8 Physical Design Tools II: Streetscape

Jacobs, Allan. “Requirements for Great Streets,” and “Qualities that Contribute.” In Great Streets. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993, Part 2, chapters 1 and 2, pp. 270-308.

National Trust for Historic Preservation. Revitalizing Downtown. pp. 43-47, 51-58.

Goody, Clancy & Associates. Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue. Albany, City of Albany, September 2000, pp. 37-44, and 68-74.

City of Boston Transportation Department. Streetscape Guidelines for Boston’s Major Roads. 1999, pp. 1-26.

City of Toronto Department of Planning and Development. Streetscape Manual. 1996, pp. 20-21, P-3, P-4, L-1, L-3, L-8, and L-17.

9 Economic Planning Tools III: Asset and Capacity Assessment

Glickman, and Servon. “More than Bricks and Sticks: What is Community Development Capacity.” CUPR Working Paper No. 132. New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Urban Policy Research, Rutgers University, 1997.

McKnight, John L., and John P. Kretzmann. Mapping Community Capacity. Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 1996, pp. 1-21.

10 Physical Design Tools III: Image and Neighborhood Form

Lynch, Kevin. “A Walk around the Block.” In City Sense and City Design: Writings and Projects of Kevin Lynch. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1980, pp. 185-204.

Ryan, Brent, and Larry Sass. “First Dudley Street Vision Walk.” October 1999.

11 Egleston Square Team Presentation  
12 Mission Hill Team Presentation  
13 Synthesis
In-class Work - Proposals for moving forward
 
14 Synthesis (cont.)
In-class Work - Proposals for moving forward
 
15 Client Presentations  
Phase 3: Policies and Interventions
16 Policies and Interventions I: Marketing and Promotion

National Trust for Historic Preservation. Revitalizing Downtown. pp. 75-93.

Seidman, Karl F. “Marketing and Promotion.” Chapter 5 in A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementing Urban Main Streets. Vol. 1. pp. 45-55.

17 Policies and Interventions II: Business Development, Retention, and Attraction

Seidman, Karl F. “Economic Restructuring.” Chapter 6 in A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementing Urban Main Streets. Vol. 1. pp. 56-70.

Grossman, Karen Doyle. Connectors and Conduits: Reaching Competitive Markets from the Ground up. Washington DC: Aspen Institute, 2002, pp. 2-5, 12-32.

18 Policies and Interventions III: Development

Community Partners Consultants, Inc. Arts District Master Plan. Worcester, MA: Arts District Task Force and City of Worcester, July 2002, chapter on Economic Development.

Goody, Clancy & Associates. Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue. Albany, City of Albany, September 2000, pp. 59-67.

Ferguson, Bruce W., Mary M. Miller, and Cynthia Liston. “Retail Revitalization.” Economic Development Commentary 19, no. 4 (Winter 1996).

Hernandez, Manuel Martinez. “Impact of Commercial Development on inner City Revitalization: An Analysis of Projects in Boston.” Thesis Urb. Stud 2001 M.C.P. pp. 7-19, 113-126.

19 Policies and Interventions IV: Transit-Oriented Development

Gratz, Roberta Brandes. “Rebuilding Place, Valuing Transit.” Chapter 5 in Cities Back from the Edge. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1998, pp. 113-137. ISBN: 0471144177.

Tsao, Camille. “Transit as a Mechanism for Revitalization.” Chapter 3 in Transit as a Catalyst for Urban Revitalization. MIT DUSP Thesis, 1998, pp. 27-38.

Bernick, Michael. “New York: Commuter Town Revival.” Chapter 10 in Transit Villages in the 21st Century. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997, pp. 271-286.

20 Policies and Interventions V: Design and Zoning Guidelines

Cooper-Marcus, Claire. “Design Guidelines: A Bridge between Research and Decision-Making”. Center for Environmental Design Research, University of California Berkeley, October 1985, pp. 1-17.

Scheer, Brenda Case. “Introduction: The Debate on Design Review.” In Design Review: Challenging Urban Aesthetic Control. Edited by Brenda Case Scheer, and Wolfgang F. E. Preiser. Chapman & Hall, 1994, pp. 1-10.

Hinshaw, Mark. APA Planning Advisory Service Report #454. In Design Review. February 1995, pp. 19-32.

Boston Main Streets Commercial District Guidelines. 1999.

Various Design and Development Guidelines.

21 Policies and Interventions VI: Safety and Sanitation

Eastside Neighborhood Development Corporation. “Payne Arcade Main Street Program Crime and Safety Committee.” Application for MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award. (Unpublished document)

Seidman, Karl F. “Crime and Public Safety.” Chapter 7 in A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementing Urban Main Streets. Vol. 1. pp. 71-76.

Houston, Lawrence O., Jr. “BIDS: Business Improvement Districts.” Washington, DC: Urban Land Institute and International Downtown Association, 1997, pp. 59-72.

22 Client Presentations  
23 Policies and Interventions VII: Organization and Capacity Building

Stokvis, Jack R., and James A. Cloar. “CRM: Applying Shopping Center Techniques to Downtown Retailing.” In Urban Land. April 1991, pp. 7-11.

Ryan, Brent D. “Philadelphia’s Center City District and the Privatization of the Public Sphere.” Projections 1, Spring 2000, pp. 58-79.

Goody, Clancy & Associates. Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue. Albany, City of Albany, September 2000, pp. 79-93.

Phase 4: The Plans
24

Synthesis - Ideas

In-class Working Session

 
25

Synthesis - Elements of the Plan

In-class Working Session

 
26

Synthesis- Final Plan Integration, Key Findings and Themes

In-class Working Session

 
27 Presentation of Draft Plans  
28 Presentation of Draft Plans (cont.)  
29 Presentations of Final Plans to Clients  
30 Course Conclusion/Reflections  
31 Final Reports/Plans  

Course Info

As Taught In
Spring 2003
Level
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Notes
Written Assignments with Examples