The Placemaker's Advisor provides advice and insights on urban planning and placemaking. It is produced by Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, Executive Director, The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking, and principal founder of Arts Build Communities, The Leading Institute, Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program and other entities.
I was a trainer in a program to help college and graduate students become more effective housing and community development professionals. Here are a few tips I shared with them, as well as a few more.
Get a sense of the community by using a site or free program that uses aerial photography, such as Google Maps or Bing Maps (Formerly Microsoft Live Maps).
Do land use, building condition and related surveys early in the morning.
For safety and efficiency, surveys should be done by at least two people together. Never do a windshield survey by yourself.
If you are working in a dangerous area (such as one with drug or gang issues), wear clothes that make you stand out. You will be seen as less of a threat if you're trying to be visible. Dressing like a municipal employee, or wearing an identity card around your neck also can help you look more conspicuous.
When passing auto-oriented uses, check the ground for oil and and other toxic chemical spills. If the floor is dirty, there's a good chance the ground is to. In other words: Likely brownfield.
When doing density surveys: doorbells-mailboxes-meters. These are your best field measures to determine how a building is subdivided. Note: In locations with illegal apartments, a landlord may feed one meter into multiple units. Also look for what seem like overly-large parking areas, compared to similar structures in the area.
Every so often, give your eyes a rest and listen and smell. What parts of the neighborhood are noisiest? What parts smell the cleanest?
If you are watching how people interact with the build environment, look like you have a reason to be standing around watching. Buy a coffee or drink when you're sitting or standing outside. Then you look like you're waiting for someone.
If you are asked what you are doing, avoid the word "redevelopment" (unless it is part of the formal name of your project.) When people hear "redevelopment," they tend to think "eminent domain" and it can get a bit ugly after that...
Trust your feelings. If you feel uncomfortable, get out of the area as quickly as possible.
Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP
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The Arts Build Communities Leadership Program is designed for civic and cultural leaders who want to be more effective in building sustainable communities and local economies through the arts.
Participants will get expert advice in building customized and more cost-effective strategies for their communities. The Leadership Program has two parts.
It begins February 11, 2011, with an all-day conference on arts-based community development and economic development. Experts will share their advice and experiences, and be candid about the benefits and challenges of this work. The conference, at Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, is open to everyone. The cost is $50, which includes meals and a free electronic resource guide.
The next part of the program runs from March to July 2011. In this part of the program, community-based teams will plan custom strategies for their communities. The teams will get technical assistance and coaching from experts in cultural planning, community and economic development, leadership and organizational development, and public policy.
All conference participants will be invited to participate in the second part of the program. Up to 10 teams will be selected, and each team must have at least one elected official (or high-ranking public administrator) and a cultural professional. Each team can have up to 10 members.
In September, the teams will return to Rutgers for a one-day convocation to share their experiences. The convocation will be open to the public.
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