Johns Hopkins UniversityIntersession 2015

Instructor Name:
Laurie Feinberg / Course Title:B'More: Baltimore City Urban Planning
Instructor Contact Information
/ Course Number:AS.360.108.33.
Distribution:
Instructor Office Hours/Location: / Credits: 1
Class Hours: 10 am – 4:30 pm / Term Dates: Intersession January
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This intersession class will explore concepts of City Planning using Baltimore as the classroom. We will focus on two to three Baltimore neighborhoods that are, in varying degrees, struggling with revitalization. We will walk the neighborhoods, talk to local neighborhood leaders, residents or business people. This course will explore how planners use demographic data, land use and zoning, urban design and other planning tools to address urban revitalization challenges. The course format will combine readings, lectures, discussions, fieldwork and hands-on exercises.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students should obtain a good working knowledge and basic understanding of the following areas:
1 / Demographics and other data sources used in Planning
2 / Urban Design Concepts
3 / Planning best practices (transportation, housing, and environment)
4 / The role of City Planning in the revitalization of Baltimore
5 / Site analysis techniques
REQUIRED MATERIALS
TEXTBOOKS / None Required
SUPPLIES / None needed – We will be taking a walking field trip. Students should be prepared with appropriate dress, camera and notepads are recommended.
EVALUATION AND GRADING
Grades will be based on the following assessments:
ASSESSMENT TYPE / PERCENT OF FINAL GRADE
Class Participation / 50%
Presentations and paper / 50%

Final grades will be based upon the following scale: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
1)100% attendance is expected

JOHNS HOPKINS POLICIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES

This course is governed by the policies set forth in The Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate Student Handbook, which contains information on a wide variety of topics, such as support services, and policies relating to student rights and responsibilities. This course is governed by the policies set forth in this document.

Some JHU student support services you may find useful include…

SUPPORT SERVICE / LOCATION / PHONE NUMBER / WEBSITE
Library E-Reserves / /
Summer & Intersession Programs / 3505 N. Charles Street, Suite 101 / 410-516-4548

CLASSROOM ACCOMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic adjustment, auxiliary aid or other similar accommodations, please contact The Office of Student Disability Services at , call 410-516-4720 or visit 385 Garland Hall.

STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Johns Hopkins University is a community committed to sharing values of diversity and inclusion in order to achieve and sustain excellence. We believe excellence is best promoted by being a diverse group of students, faculty and staff who are committed to creating a climate of mutual respect that is supportive of one another’s success.Through its curricula and clinical experiences, we purposefully support the University’s goal of diversity, and in particular, work toward an ultimate outcome of best serving the needs of students. Faculty and candidates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of diversity as it relates to planning, instruction, management, and assessment.

A WORD ON ETHICS

The strength of the university depends on academic and personal integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the Internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition.

Report any violations you witness to the instructor.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Day / Dates / Topics / Assignments/Reading
I
Jan 19 / 10 AM / What is City Planning? Hands-on planning exercise.
Data and information for Planners – What does census informationtell us?- Dr. Seema Iyer UB
Discuss Site Analysis – Prep for fieldwork / Each evening students will be expected to read a current article on City Planning, briefly research the topic and be prepared in class to discuss its relevance to Baltimore. On-line sources listed below. Class discussions will be held daily.
2 PM / Field Work- Visit Station North Arts District Greenmount West Community.As we walk through these neighborhoods we will discuss strengths and weaknesses and identify challenges and opportunities.
Coffee Break – Station North Arts Café – discussion with Kevin Brown, owner – approx. 3pm
/ During the Field Work – take photos and identify challenges and opportunities within the neighborhood. Reference some of the topics discussed during the morning session. Use site analysis techniques.
Meet at Barnes and Noble 2 pm- We will take the shuttle to Penn Station and then walk. Be prepared to walk outdoors. Dress warmly.
II
Jan 20 / 10 AM /
  • History of City Planning and Urban Design
  • Vacants to Values – Michael Braverman, Deputy Commissioner, Baltimore Housing
  • Develop a brief SWOT analysis of the Station North area.

2 PM / Field Work – Visit Waverly Main Street and surrounding residential communities of Waverly and Harwood
Meet at Barnes and Noble 2pm- Be prepared to walk outdoors. Dress warmly. We will meet with Regina Boyce, Waverly Main Street. / During the Field Work – take photos and identify challenges and opportunities on the site. Reference some of the topics discussed during the morning sessions. Use site analysis techniques.
III
Jan 21 / 10 AM / Guest Speaker –Chris Ryer SECDC – What are Community development Corporations, how do they work, what makes them successful? / Develop final project – Each student will recommend a strategy or policy that will help revitalize Baltimore Neighborhoods without forcing out unnecessarily existing residents.
2 PM / Panel Discussion – TBD Neighborhood Revitalization
IV
Jan 22 / 10 AM / Guest Speaker – Greening and City Planning, Mark Cameron, Landscape Architect and Environmental Planner.
2 PM / Friday afternoon will be spent with student presentations of Policy idea- discussion/critique. Outside panel TBD / Each student will present their policy idea and discuss. Final paper2-4 pages due by 6pm Sunday January 24th

Partial List 11/19/2015 Bibliography and related reading

  1. Design of Cities by Edmund Bacon
  2. Not in My Neighborhood by Antero Pietila

The following are good sources for articles on current Urban Planning Topics

  1. SmartPlanet stories related to the world's densest areas of settlement -- how their geography, economies, politics, social characteristics and built environment impact their efficiency as a living, breathing system of systems.
  2. City Lab - The Atlantic Cities – Explores innovative ideas and issues facing global cities
  3. Journal of the American Planning Association -
  4. Planetizen is a public-interest information exchange for the urban planning, design, and development community. It is a one-stop source for urban planning news, editorials, book reviews, announcements, jobs, education, and more.
  5. A forum for the Design of the Public Realm -
  6. Urbana: Urban Affairs and Public Policy is a peer reviewed, multidisciplinary open-access scholarly journal focusing on urban issues at an international level, exploring all aspects of cities and urbanization including urban planning, economics, history, politics, international relations and literature.
  1. Race, Class, Power and Organizing in East Baltimore
  1. Others of student choosing

Videos

JHU Forum on Race in America featuring Ta-Nehesi Coates (Video)

Equity Planning in a Constrained City

Agora Interviews: June Manning Thomas

NY Times-South Bronx Rising

NY Times-N.Y. Region: Cleaning Up 'The Deuce' (42nd St Times Square)