equitable development planning

Community-Based
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
Revitalization project at Chavis Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. (photo credit: Skeo Solutions)
WHAT IS COMMUNITY-BASED
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT?
Traditional urban development patterns have emphasized growth at the
city edge, resulting in sprawl and creating places of disinvestment in the
center city as jobs, businesses and wealth migrate outwards. For the lowincome and minority communities that remain, these “tears” in the fabric
present daily challenges for quality of life including struggling schools, lack
of access to healthy, affordable food, unemployment and underemployment,
health impacts of cumulative pollution problems, and the presence of
vacant and contaminated properties that contribute to the continued cycle
of disinvestment.
Traditional patterns of sprawl have left holes of disinvestment in urban neighborhoods that threaten community life.
These communities are often referred to as environmental justice
communities because of the disproportionate environmental and health
impacts borne by residents. Nonetheless, these neighborhoods are also
often places of intense creativity, resourcefulness and resiliency, and are
highly valued by their residents. Equitable development planning provides
tools and services that enable communities to develop a vision and action
plan for revitalization that fosters neighborhood health and vitality.
Guiding Principles
Urban development patterns have resulted in places of disinvestment,
where residents may experience disproportionate economic,
environmental and health disparities.
• Solutions need to include a community-wide strategy based on
community-defined needs and quality of life priorities.
• Fostering community-leadership and decision making is integral to
growing neighborhood resilience.
• Equitable development solutions will include infrastructure and
economic development for the existing community.
Skeo Solutions
Equitable Development
Planning Framework
Skeo Solutions has developed a proactive,
areawide planning process that allows
communities to:
•
take the lead in defining neighborhood
goals and needs,
•
identify and address environmental
equity issues,
•
identify catalyst sites and key
opportunities for strengthening the
neighborhood fabric,
•
build a productive coalition of
community members, organizations and
government agencies, and
•
develop a plan for development and
revitalization that benefits the existing
community.
The end result? Communities of
opportunity where residents participate in
and benefit from the development and policy
decisions that shape their quality of life.
Equitable development
The practice of enabling communities to prioritize
and pursue development that benefits current
residents and contributes to neighborhood
resilience and quality of life.
Brownfields
Vacant or underutilized property where
contamination or perceived contamination may be
impeding neighborhood vitality.
Environmental Justice
Universal protection from activities that threaten
the fundamental right to clean air, land, food and
water.
May 2013
The Process:
Equitable Development
Invest in People, Invest in Place
Outcomes and Innovations
Economic Opportunity
The Village at Market Creek. In
partnership with the Jacobs Center for
Neighborhood Innovation, teams of
residents in the Diamond Neighborhoods
of San Diego are developing a masterplan
for revitalization.
People
ReGenesis Partnership. A broad-based multistakeholder revitalization effort that focuses on
four areas: the environment, health, local economy
and social needs. ReGenesis has partnered to
build a community health center, affordable
homes, and a shopping center.
•
•
Identify community
leadership and quality
of life goals
Form steering
committee
Interview
stakeholders
•
Identify community
assets and challenges
(cultural, historical,
physical, recreational)
Identify relevant
community initiatives
Refine
goals and
priorities
•
Partnerships with job-training programs and new businesses
can provide training and employment opportunities for
unemployed and underemployed residents.
•
Preventing displacement means that long-term benefits such as
increased property values return to current residents.
Healthier Built and
Natural Environment
•
•
Sidewalk mosaics at Market Creek Plaza,
the first phase of development, reflect
the traditional cloth patterns of local immigrant families. An amphitheater with a
children’s art wall features handpainted
tiles created by over 1000 local children.
Investing in equitable development can yield tangible economic
benefits for community members, local businesses, institutions, and
municipalities.
•
Identify catalyst
sites and near term
priorities
•
Identify opportunities
for community
engagement
Evaluate assets
and challenges
•
Identify partners and
community champions
•
Identify community
programming
strategies.
Future
scenarios
Equitable development provides more enjoyable, healthier
environments in which to live, raise families, do business, and
recreate.
•
Develop tools and
training to support
community-driven
implementation
•
Increased access to parks and open space as well as healthy,
local food can help to address health concerns such as obesity
and diabetes.
•
Integrating green infrastructure elements into the urban
environment can reduce energy costs by reducing the urban
heat island effect and provide a more aesthetically pleasing
setting.
Ongoing
Implementation
Strategy
Implementation
Place
Empowered Individuals and
•
•
Identify spatial scale
and scope for physical
analysis
Gather existing data
and documentation
•
Map existing
conditions
•
Evaluate
infrastructure, market
and services
•
Develop inventories
•
Conduct gap analysis
(map existing
conditions in relation
to quality of life goals
and priorities)
•
Identify opportunities
•
Develop future
scenarios and
strategies
•
•
Identify phasing
opportunities and
limitations
Develop
implementation tools
and strategies
Richmond Green Infrastructure
Assessment. Vacant lands (left) are
evaluated for suitability to support green
infrastructure such as community gardens
and green streets that link underserved areas
with trail networks and other urban amenities.
Goal Setting
Shared Learning
Solutions Development
•
Develop
implementation plan
•
Identify evaluation
criteria and tools
Productive Relationships
Equitable development underscores the value of investing in
the people who define a place through capacity building and
relationship development
North Dayton. Industrial neighborhoods in Dayton, OH are looking for ways
to adapt and expand existing facilities to
attract emerging industrial sectors and to
develop local capacity through workforce
training.
Future use plans
emphasize integration
of land uses and
amenities that honor
the community’s
industrial heritage.
Implementation
•
Empowering local residents and grassroots organizations to
lead the community planning process results in sustainable
development plans with community support.
•
Productive coalitions of community members, organizations
and government agencies can produce synergistic partnerships
and opportunities to leverage existing assets and initiatives.
Vibrant Community Life
Equitable development emphasizes creation of a sense of place
based in the local community’s culture and heritage.
•
Community leadership in development and policy decisions
allows existing neighborhood identity and assets to guide
neighborhood growth.
•
Culturally-relevant design and community events increase
neighborhood pride and sense of place.
Community-Based
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
Belle Isle
Manchester
Park
Office/Mix
Industrial
Park
Ja
me
Lee
Housing
Bridg
e
Adjacent and proposed use
Gateway to Riverside Dr,
James River Park, Downtown
indicates proposed use
Ave
Sem
ve
r
Gateway to
James River Park
Office or
neighborhood
services
Residential,
commercial or
flexible use
Ri
James River Park
Ancarrow’s Landing
First floor office or retail
Current
use to be
confirmed
s
e
nu
es
m
James River Park
"
Alice Fitz
Playground
Manchester Urban Mini-Farm
Washington
Square Park
God's Garden
"
Manchester Courthouse
Sacred Heart Community
Center Community Garden
Hope VI Housing
ee
t
"
th
Str
th
12
ee
th
Str
Anticipated Development
(Multi-family or Mixed Use)
14
Hu
ee
th
Str
Commercial Corridor
16
rS
tu
ca
Blackwell Elementary School
Highway
De
t
t
ee
tr
Park/play
Jefferson Davis
Office or
neighborhood
services
Hope VI Housing (Future)
t
e
tre
ll S
Residential
ee
Library
t
Residential
(Complete or In Development)
10
S
t
ge
rid
inb
Ba
Str
t
e
tre
Public Parks
Blackwell Community Center
Neighborhood Centers
e
nu
ry
au
e
Av
Neighborhood Gateways
M
e
nu
ve
nA
"
sto
Bo
e
u
en
ie
Industrial
d
wid
Din
Residential
or live/work
Av
Street Design A
Street Design B
Street Design C
Community Gardens
James River Park Trail
James River Heritage Trail
East Coast Greenway
Map developed by E2 Inc. and GIC
Prescott Park
SKEO SOLUTIONS
Planning and Design Services
Skeo Solutions is committed to empowering community
members, institutions, municipalities and other
stakeholders with the necessary skills, tools, and
knowledge to become proactive leaders in building
equitable development solutions.We are a leader in
innovative collaborative decision-making processes that
integrate robust spatial and policy analysis with the
priorities and insights that reflect the unique history,
character and context of local communities.
Skeo Solutions
For more information, contact:
Miranda Maupin
[email protected]
www.skeo.com
(434) 975-6700
May 2013