Revitalizing Urban Main Streets: Mission Hill & Egleston Square, Boston

Assignments

In addition to completion of the readings, students are required to focus on the questions below and turn in assignments on each due date. A sample final report (PDF - 1.7 MB) is published with student permission. (Courtesy of Darlene Gallant, Ursula Hester, Andrew Jakabovics, Jenifer Kaminsky, Ed Pauls, Zoe Weinrobe, Andrew Whittemore, Desiree Sideroff, and Jordan Karp. Used with permission.)

SES #	TOPICS	ASSIGNMENTS
Phase 1: Introduction and Overview
1	Introduction to Course Urban Neighborhood Decline: Causes, Consequences, Challenges	What do the readings suggest about these issues? What role do race and class play in decline? What are your own beliefs and assumptions about urban neighborhood decline? How do these compare with what the readings present? Issue Assignment 1
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.	What are the major differences between these two Districts? Similarities? What would you say are the major challenges facing each District?
3	Physical and Economic Tools I: Urban Design - Ways of Seeing/Architecture Economic Development - Theories of Retail/Identifying Retail Niches	Assignment 1: Davis Square and Central Square assessments. Each team to make a 15-minute presentation on visual clues and how the economic theories of retail operate in the district. What is the image of the district? What are the compelling visual clues that support that image? What appear to be the major anchors? How important is convenience vs. comparison retail? What market segments does the district serve?
4	Revitalization Strategies I and II	What are the major strategies and their differences? How do these strategies relate to the causes of decline? What idea of revitalization is implicit in the strategies? What are class and race implications of these views? What is your idea of revitalization?
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.	Goals for day: Initial impressions, opportunities and challenges. What would you do? What can vision be? Outline key planning issues to focus on and prepare preliminary outline for final report!
6	Project Discussion	Groups to present historical overview of area. Summaries of previous reports. Areas for further assessment and research, elements for a revitalization plan, outline of key tasks, list of people to interview. Who are the key stakeholders to include? Who has been excluded in prior plans and initiatives? Who is critical to plan success?
Phase 2: Assessment Tools
7	Economic Planning Tools II: Retail Market Analysis and Economic Planning	Goal of class is to scope out the market and economic analysis plan for each district. What work has already been done? What do you know already and what else do you want to know?
8	Physical Design Tools II: Streetscape	Each team to present analysis of District streetscape, including an inventory of existing properties and businesses. How does the streetscape contribute to or detract from the District? What is the condition of the properties? Can you describe the physical characteristics of the District in one or two paragraphs?
9	Economic Planning Tools III: Asset and Capacity Assessment	Each team should develop two lists: (1) Key assets for revitalization (already identified) and potential ones to assess. (2) Critical capacities needed to address your initial goals and proposed changes.
10	Physical Design Tools III: Image and Neighborhood Form	Presentation by each District Team: Elements that contribute to a sense of place, negative images, and proposals for change. How do your changes benefit the residents/users of the District?
11	Egleston Square Team Presentation	Assessment of physical conditions, results of demographic and market analysis, proposed elements of revitalization plan. Team must submit a work plan and schedule for remainder of semester.
12	Mission Hill Team Presentation	Assessment of physical conditions, results of demographic and market analysis, proposed elements of revitalization plan. Team must submit a work plan and schedule for remainder of semester.
13	Synthesis In-class Work - Proposals for moving forward
14	Synthesis (cont.) In-class Work - Proposals for moving forward	Draft chapter of Report - Inventory and Analysis.
15	Client Presentations	Draft Presentation #1 to clients - initial findings, agenda for moving forward, confirm course of action with clients.
Phase 3: Policies and Interventions
16	Policies and Interventions I: Marketing and Promotion	For each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present thoughts on key marketing challenges and a proposed marketing plan.
17	Policies and Interventions II: Business Development, Retention, and Attraction	For each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present thoughts on key business development issues and business opportunities, attraction challenges and a proposed plan to address them.
18	Policies and Interventions III: Development	For each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present initial thoughts on new development opportunities in the Districts and what should be done to shape the uses and character of these current and planned projects.
19	Policies and Interventions IV: Transit-Oriented Development	For each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present initial thoughts on transit-related issues and opportunities and areas/plans for proposed actions.
20	Policies and Interventions V: Design and Zoning Guidelines	Pin-up: Areas for action regarding design and zoning guidelines
21	Policies and Interventions VI: Safety and Sanitation	For each team, 2 to 3 members will have 15 minutes to present initial thoughts on safety and sanitation issues and areas/plans for proposed actions.
22	Client Presentations	Presentation #2 to client - Areas for action regarding marketing, promotion, and business development, retention, attraction.
23	Policies and Interventions VII: Organization and Capacity Building	Draft outline of plan elements and summary of implementation requirements and Main Street program’s roles due.
Phase 4: The Plans
24	Synthesis - Ideas In-class Working Session	Each team will seek to clarify and prioritize ideas and goals.
25	Synthesis - Elements of the Plan In-class Working Session	Each team will work with its list of goals to develop elements of the plan.
26	Synthesis - Final Plan Integration, Key Findings and Themes In-class Working Session	Each team will identify links between elements of the plan, describe key findings, and illustrate broad themes with clear, compelling graphics and text.
27	Presentation of Draft Plans	Each team will have 30 minutes to present key themes and concepts of its revitalization plan.
28	Presentation of Draft Plans (cont.)	Again, each team will have 30 minutes to make a revised presentation of its revitalization plan.
29	Presentations of Final Plans to Clients	Client Presentation(s) #3 - The Final Plan(s)
30	Course Conclusion/Reflections
31	Final Report/Plans	Three copies of the final report (PDF - 1.7 MB)/plans (Courtesy of Darlene Gallant, Ursula Hester, Andrew Jakabovics, Jenifer Kaminsky, Ed Pauls, Zoe Weinrobe, Andrew Whittemore, Desiree Sideroff, and Jordan Karp. Used with permission.)