Call for Nominations is now open

Call for Nominations!

Serving as an elected leader in APA offers a tremendous opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your networks, and work directly to strengthen the impact of the organization. The portal for candidate self-nominations will be open through May 30th at https://apa.directnominations.net and includes all the groups and positions up for election this year. Learn more at https://www.planning.org/elections/

Chapter Administrator, expressions of interest sought

The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association is seeking expressions of interest from qualified firms or individuals able to provide the services of Chapter Administrator. The Chapter Administrator provides services as a consultant in accordance with a Scope of Services and is not an employee of the Chapter or the American Planning Association. The term of the agreement for the engagement is typically 12 months. The Chapter is accepting expressions of interest through May 24, 2024. A full request for proposals is expected to be released by May 31, 2024.

Prior scopes of service have included the following tasks:

• Coordinate of communications among Executive Board, Sections and the general membership as directed, primarily through electronic forms of communication and often occurs weekly.

• Assist with the Annual Conference and a spring chapter event, including soliciting and managing sponsorships, and promoting both events.

• Assist the Professional Development Officer to register and promote upcoming Certification Maintenance and other development opportunities.

• Manage chapter communications, including email updates (via MailChimp or similar), postings to the web site (CMS-based), and monitoring the Chapter email account (via Google Workspace).

• Solicit sponsorships for the website, annual conference, and any other opportunity by email and possibly phone follow-ups.

• Act as a liaison to partner organizations on behalf of the Chapter in order to facilitate more effective communication between the Chapter and our allied professional organizations, including AIA, ASLA, and the New York Planning Federation (NYPF).

• Perform additional tasks not included in the scope and assigned by the Executive Board as agreed upon and documented in a written task order on an hourly or other fee basis.

You may submit an expression of interest to the Chapter President via email at president@nyupstateplanning.org. Please provide the following:

• Name of the firm or individual expressing interest.

• A summary of key qualifications and experience working with membership-based organizations.

• Annotated resumes of key staff assigned to provide Chapter Administrator support.

• A fee proposal based on approximately 250 hours of work per year in consideration of the scope above.

• Contact information for additional questions or follow-up.

UAlbany GPSA visits Albany Rural Cemetery, sees ARCE app

The UAlbany GPSA hosted a successful tour of the Albany Rural Cemetery on April 24th. The tour showcased the Albany Rural Cemetery Explorer App (ARCE), which combines history and mapping for self-guided tours and will soon be available for free download.

Members of the Bender Foundation joined UAlbany students and faculty. The University’s Geography and Planning department, led by Dr. Rui Li, has generously contributed to the app's development. Friends of the ARC supported us invaluably during the tour.

Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York’s inaugural Greenways Advocacy Summit

Join us for a pivotal moment in the future of New York’s greenways! Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York’s inaugural Greenways Advocacy Summit, to take place on Monday, May 20 at the Egg Performing Arts Center in Albany. This event will be the premier gathering of statewide advocates dedicated to expanding New York’s network of multi-use trails.

The morning program will feature a lineup of a dozen trail experts, showcasing innovative initiatives and leading policy advancements in greenway development. In the afternoon, we'll engage in legislative meetings in the Capitol to secure support for the Greenway Trails for a Green Future bill package as well as funding in next year’s state budget for trail development.

Space is limited, so register today to secure your spot! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to help our greenways have a powerful voice in Albany.

For more details and to register, visit our website. For questions, email me at dcarey@ptny.org.

Your participation is crucial to the future of New York’s greenway network. Join us to be a key player in this vital movement!

NY Upstate Chapter endorses Federal land banking bill

The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association joined with the American Planning Association and more than 30 other organizations to endorse the bi-partisan Neighborhood Revitalization and Land Banking Act in the US Senate. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the bill that would further assist land banks across the U.S. with efforts to remediate blight and stimulate economic growth.

“Since New York State joined the land banking effort in 2012, land banks have become essential resources here and across the country,” said Sean Maguire, AICP CEcD, Chapter President. “We’re further encouraged that this bill, when paired with the efforts of New York State’s leaders in Albany, will continue to bring resources to help land banks advance a new model for redevelopment in all communities, and especially those communities negatively impacted by practices of discrimination and disinvestment.”

Read Sen. Casey’s announcement here.

Chapter President Sean Maguire appointed to APA Governance Committee

The American Planning Association has announced that Chapter President Sean Maguire has been appointed by the American Planning Association Board of Directors to its Governance Committee. Maguire will serve as a member of the committee starting January 1, 2024 and through December 31, 2024. The Governance Committee is charged with reviewing the Association’s Bylaws and governing policies and making recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Sean Maguire, AICP CEcD

“I’m honored to be invited to serve our association in this important role,” said Sean Maguire. “Recently, the APA published proposed changes to the Bylaws that are quite important to our members. I was pleased to join the New York Metro Chapter President on a letter asking for more time to consider these changes. I look forward to being involved in what is certain to be a very active discussion in the year ahead. I thank the APA President Angela Brooks and the APA Board of Directors for trusting me with this important responsibility and look forward to working with many of my colleagues in 2024.”

“As APA works towards achieving our strategic goals, we will again need the time and talent of many volunteers who graciously agree to serve,” said APA President Angela D. Brooks, FAICP.

Upstate New York Planners Recognize Award-Winning Projects

ALBANY, N.Y. – The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) has announced the recipients of the 2021 Professional Awards.  Seven projects have been selected and will be recognized at the 2022 Chapter Conference due to the pandemic that forced the Chapter to hold a virtual conference in 2021.  These projects were deemed to have at least met the criteria of the award and illustrates great planning in Upstate New York.

“Each year, the New York Upstate Chapter has the wonderful challenge of reviewing applications from our colleagues and communities and learning more about what is happening around the state," said Sean Maguire, Chapter Vice President and Chapter Awards Chair.  “We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Professional Awards highlighting the best in planning across Upstate New York creating great communities for all.”

 Awards were made in two of the categories available – Best Practice and Comprehensive Planning.  One project in each category were the work of students at either the University at Albany or University at Buffalo.

 Best Practice

• Amherst Farmland Protection and Agricultural Development Plan

• Revitalization and Redevelopment Design Plan for Sewall’s Island and Factory Square

• Lark Street Improvement Study

• LivCo Wayfinding Strategy

• Erie Grown

• Delaware County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Mitigation and Adaptation Opportunities (Student Project, University at Albany)

 Comprehensive Planning

• Willert Park Courts - A.D. Price Homes: A Study of People and Placemaking (Student Project, University at Buffalo)

Details about each award winner can be found in the section below. 

ABOUT THE AWARDEES

Amherst Farmland Protection and Agricultural Development Plan.  For a farmland protection plan to be effective in Amherst it needed to address the current development pressure pushing north into the historically agricultural district in Town. A strategy had to include a separate section that shows agricultural lands as not only a physical asset to the community but also an important contributor to the local economy. Identifying agriculture as an economic asset as well as a natural asset adds another layer of value to these lands. Thus a hybrid model for the farmland protection plan was formed: a farmland protection component with an economic analysis of its contributions to the Town’s economy.  Contact:  Kimberly Amplement, (716) 631-7103

Revitalization and Redevelopment Design Plan for Sewall’s Island and Factory Square.  The City of Watertown community and economy has centered around the Black River for generations. The Revitalization and Redevelopment Design Plan for Sewall’s Island and Factory Square took an underutilized riverfront site and created a vision for a new district that celebrates and embraces the history and natural setting in a new and creative way for future generations. The plan echoes similar situations facing many communities throughout New York that are trying to revitalize and evolve from the remnants of their industrial past. The plan’s approach establishes a framework of key elements that guide future development, including natural environment, the historic built features of the area that should remain, transportation, and contextual land uses. This framework was shared and vetted with stakeholders and the public to uncover possibilities, gain input, and provide a detailed look into the planning process.  The final vision for Sewall’s Island and Factory Square is a mixed-use district that is anchored by multiple new public spaces and parks, all of which interact with the Black River and its rapids. The plan emphasizes the importance of public space and its power to incentivize private development. Historic structures are repurposed to celebrate the history of the area, establish character, and ensure the district is uniquely Watertown.  Contact:  Sean Hare, (585)739-7652

Lark Street Improvement Study.  The Lark Street Improvement Study examines the feasibility of a variety of different streetscape improvements along Lark Street in downtown Albany to enhance the public realm, improve walkability and safety, create a unique sense of place, and catalyze economic development. Informed by extensive public outreach, existing plans, data collection and analysis, and a temporary demonstration project, this Study identified feasible and transformative streetscape improvements and provided the City with an implementation strategy, including cost estimates and phasing, programmatic, and policy recommendations. Funding has already been secured for design and construction of the first phase of proposed improvements.  Contact:  Elizabeth Podowski King, (518) 556-3630.

LivCo Wayfinding Strategy.  Livingston County identified the need to undertake a County-wide wayfinding study to improve vehicular and pedestrian navigation, support economic development and visually connect the nine villages and destinations throughout the County with uniform and consistent signage. Incorporating feedback from a robust public engagement strategy and building off of numerous County and Regional initiatives, this study lays the groundwork for an informative, functional and identifiable wayfinding system.  Detailed cost estimates and implementation strategies were identified for each of the nine Villages to plan for future capital improvement programming and grant opportunities. In addition to wayfinding, this study provides recommendations and general streetscape design guidelines to help create inviting, comfortable and navigable environments in each of the nine Villages.  Contact:  Samantha Aldrich, (716) 710-3934.

Erie Grown.  The Erie Grown (EG) website is an initiative of the Erie County Office of Agriculture to promote locally grown and in-season agricultural products and agritourism,222 and to improve the viability of farming. EG includes a site locator map, allowing users to view farm and farm-related businesses in one comprehensive map, and a produce finder, allowing users to search by type of produce and locate growers to purchase from. Additionally, Erie County Office of Agriculture staff maintain a blog spotlighting various producers and agritourism events. A companion to EG is the Erie Grown Passport (EGP). The EGP further incentivizes local purchasing by encouraging participants to visit local producers for a chance to win agriculture-related prizes. The overarching goal of EG and the EGP is to bolster the agricultural economy and local food system, and to demystify buying local by creating an intuitive platform that benefits both producers and consumers. To date, 145 producers (i.e.: farms, farmers markets, wineries, cideries) have enrolled in EG and the website has over 50,000 views. Of repeat website visitors that have taken a user survey, 75% have indicated that EG has helped them purchase goods from a local producer.  Contact:  Sarah Gatti, (716) 858-6014.

Delaware County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Mitigation and Adaptation Opportunities.  The graduate planning studio at SUNY Albany assisted Delaware County, NY in the compilation of a Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation Opportunities Plan in the fall 2020 semester. The plan helps to establish hazard mitigation priorities with respect to housing and green infrastructure and provides a foundation for informed mitigation planning and decision making. The studio report also assisted the AVAIL lab at SUNY Albany in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan Update for Delaware County. The focus of the student research was prepared in consultation with the Delaware County’s Planning Department and Soil and Water Conservation District under the supervision of Dr. Jared Enriquez and Dr. Catherine Lawson at SUNY Albany. Student material was considered for draft hazard mitigation plan updates for flood-prone communities in Upstate NY.  Contact:  Jared Enriquez, (210) 849-5938.

Willert Park Courts - A.D. Price Homes: A Study of People and Placemaking.  A studio consisting of graduate students in Urban Planning, Historic Preservation, and Real Estate Development evaluated Willert Park Courts and questioned the underpinning ideas associated with historic preservation - questioning traditional approaches is both innovative and original. This is a project that has a direct impact on "people in place." The intent of the student work was to provide a context to better understand the planning process and, for those “who have historically been left out of the planning process,” a resource that documents the history of Willert Park and the significant cultural resources, while providing design concepts that acknowledge the significance of the buildings and landscape design, while providing a place, a home, for people that is not just a great place to live, but is consistent with regulatory guidelines. The students working on this project had the opportunity to interact with other disciplines – historic preservation, urban planning, real estate development. This project provided the planning student to have a real world experience in a complex, and controversial historic preservation and public housing issue. The student was engaged as a planner. The document produced has influenced the design.  Contact:  Daniel B. Hess, (716) 829-5326.

Looking at a Post Pandemic Capital Region of Upstate New York By Carlos Balsas,PhD, AICP

The pandemic has affected the Capital Region quite dramatically. Based on pre-pandemic published research and applied teaching activities, in this essay I argue that there are some important planning orientations to keep in mind in a post-pandemic reality. They are centered on neighborhood planning, downtown revitalization, walkability, industry and advanced manufacturing, and arts and culture.  Neighborhood planning is critical to successful cities and metropolitan areas. Albany’s historic downtown district has struggled in its fight to become a thriving community. Undergraduate students at the University at Albany studied which programs and initiatives have been implemented to revitalize the downtown and what must still be done to aid the creation of a more vibrant, livable and socially just downtown. Other neighborhoods throughout Albany and the Capital Region are also in need of assistance. A different cohort of students examined neighborhood transformations and planning efforts in Arbor Hill and Beverwyck in Albany, and Harmony Mills and Hamilton Hill in Cohoes and Schenectady, respectively. Although these neighborhoods are in different stages of development, the research methods uncovered both socio-economic and urban difficulties and revitalization potential. The recommendations put forward range the gamut from crime mitigation tactics and school-based programs, to housing renovations, public space improvements, capacity building and community gardens.

Walkable places are assets in cities. They have advantages over vehicle-oriented spaces in terms of economic, social, health, energy and environmental perspectives. Continued car-dependence in New York State has threatened the existence and expansion of walkable places. But there are exceptions, Albany has a walkable concourse in the Empire State Plaza built during the 1970s; Ithaca has a downtown pedestrian precinct on State Street, which was expanded a few years ago; and finally, Buffalo has completed a redesign of its Main Street Transit Mall to increase its vibrancy in connection with the city’s waterfront district, Canalside historic redevelopment district. As upstate cities are greatly impacted by their latitude, all have to deal with inclement weather conditions during winter. Walking outdoors during winter months is not comfortable, safe or pleasant. This condition can accentuate sedentarism and car dependence, which also tends to worsen health conditions. Recently, I analyzed how the city of Albany enables walking conditions, with particular attention to two subterranean facilities: The underground concourse at the Empire State Plaza and the service tunnels at the University of Albany uptown campus. I argued that all cities benefit from comfortable, safe and pleasant walking environments; however, winter cities tend to benefit the most from the existence of indoor, grade-separated walking facilities. Upstate New York cities will likely derive benefits from extending, and especially connecting, their existing underground pedestrian facilities.

In terms of industry and advanced manufacturing, it is important to recognize how urban industrial transformations occurring in upstate New York communities can succeed at creating long-term, well-paying and high-skilled jobs for their host cities and towns. Although it is difficult to convert former 20th century industrial sites to 21st century advanced manufacturing requirements, state and localities should not abandon existing industrially zoned land in favor of out-of-town greenfield industrial developments. A comparative discussion of five upstate cases according to a fourfold criterion (land, labor, capital and triple bottom line) has revealed some puzzling findings. Finally, the Berkshires-Hudson region is a hotbed of creative enterprise. Although, it can be approached as one region, the Massachusetts – New York state border differentiates two slightly separate back-to-back Janus-faced realities. Both territorial halves have been negatively impacted by decades of de-industrialization. A study of the emergence of the Berkshires-Hudson regional creative cluster uncovered how local and regional leaders have influenced arts and cultural priorities, public funding, territorial development agendas, and creative economy educational opportunities. The in-depth reading of these various materials, and especially the careful implementation of the planning orientations they propose will certainly help create a more resilient and sustainable post-pandemic Capital Region.

References

(2020) The reinvention of indoor walking for sustainable non-motorized active living in winter cities. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment.

(2020) Reconsidering Industrial Policy in Eastern New York, U.S.A. Urban Research and Practice.

(2019) A collaborative geophilosophical perspective on creative territories: The Massachusetts-New York case. Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia, 75(4): 2537–2566.

Rise of the Small Town: By Adam Bonosky, AIA, APA, CNU-a, Senior Planner, SWBR

Everything is a reaction to what came before.

This lesson was one of my major takeaways from an architectural history course. To understand where an ideology/movement/etc. came from – why its tenants are what they are and why certain things are emphasized over another – you need to understand the historical context. Over the past year, there has been an increase in the discussion and anecdotes of people looking outside of our major cities for places to live. It is unlikely that we are seeing the end of cities, but what we may be seeing is a reaction between the station of life of people in our cities, and the way cities have been revitalized today. Exacerbated by the recent pandemic and new opportunities of remote working, people are looking for places that offer a bit more space, affordability, and amenities. Rather than presenting the typical choice of urban or sprawl, this reaction presents an opportunity for us to embrace and highlight our villages and towns and provide true options of places and ways to live. In this essay, we will look at history to shed light on why our cities are the way they are today, consider new factors that are influencing recent reactions, and highlight how our villages and towns present solutions to current forces.

Before we examine the history of cities through the lens of where people live, let’s return to the thought first expressed at the start of this essay. A swinging pendulum is often used as a metaphor for the idea of reactions; forces nudge in one direction with the result being that the pendulum swings back in the other direction with brief moments of equilibrium. Picturing a pendulum swinging between two points can work well for specific topics. However, a Foucault’s Pendulum is a better way to think about the ebb and flow of the places we live. If you have ever been to a museum where you see a weight swinging back and forth in what appears to be a circle, knocking down markers to show the passage of time, then you have seen a Foucault’s Pendulum.

Foucault’s Pendulum

The pendulum metaphor raises a question – what is the equilibrium? What is the point around which the forces of a city swing and sway and drives success or decline? Many have written that it is around its inhabitants...its people. In fact, our cities, towns, and villages can be seen as sophisticated tools (not machines) that we use to address our individual and societal needs. An equilibrium is achieved when the tool is calibrated and used properly to meet the needs of the people. Meeting these needs is an act of managing the sometimes competing needs of people and the society that live within a city, town, or village. A Foucault’s Pendulum makes a better visual. The variety of priorities work together to pull the pendulum in ever-shifting directions as conditions change over time.

It is important to note here that while basic needs remain the same, secondary and tertiary needs change as the station of people changes – being born, going to school, growing up, having an adult life, having families, kids moving out, retiring – and a city needs to be flexible enough to address these needs. The closer the pendulum is to the needs of the common person, the more in equilibrium a city is. The farther away the pendulum swings, people begin to feel abused, unwanted, and overlooked. It is at this point that they react to their situation because their needs are habitually not being met. Their reaction is typically to look elsewhere to live. With this perspective in mind, let’s consider our other subjects.

Cities Through the Lens of its People

To start off with, why do we have cities, towns, and villages? Why do people settle in places together? On a basic level, settlements have been essential to our survival as a species. With greater numbers we could protect ourselves from outside dangers. They also serve other important aspects of being human. Our cities, towns, and villages are places of learning and encourage the exchange of cultures, house historic moments, and foster the spark of scientific ideas and creative pursuits. The Agora of Athens is where philosophers met, debated, and taught; the silk road enabled humanity to learn about each other; meetings at taverns led to the American Revolution; coffee houses helped develop the theory of gravity; and impressionists met in Paris to advance their art. At their highest, cities can even inspire us to be even better than we are. Inspiring speeches given in our cities have roused us to pursue egalitarian goals of equality toward our friends and neighbors. On top of these layers, they are places where we work, relax, are entertained, learn, and live.

Our lives in our cities and towns today are a result of the series of reactions that people had over time. So how did we arrive where we are now? Let’s start in with the second industrial revolution. This is when some of the grievances with cities and towns started really becoming exacerbated and triggered a deeper pendulum swing. The impact of the second industrial revolution on cities is as an example of what happens when the eye is taken off of the reason for the city. Beginning in the late 1800’s, industrialized cities were becoming more and more inhumane. London in the late 1800’s was booming. Industry was growing, more was being produced than at any time in our history and even more advancements were being made. At the same time, smog was being pumped into the air and the living conditions for the working class were deteriorating. While it was exciting, the city was recognized as an undesirable place to live unless you could afford to take yourself and your family to the countryside which provided cleaner air, green spaces for relaxing, and some reprieve from the noise and overcrowding downtown.

The pendulum had swung too far from equilibrium. The city was not meeting the needs of its citizens and this fact was recognized by several groups. Among the members of these groups was Ebenezer Howard who introduced the concept of the Garden City as a reaction to the existing conditions. It was an attempt to address the needs of a city’s inhabitants. This idea was largely successful in having influence and gained popularity. From this came the Garden City Suburb and the concept of the suburb as a place for people of the city to stretch out and relax. Even Robert Moses and his contemporaries began their careers on assembling park spaces for the residents of cities to escape the overcrowding. As the car grew in influence, a car-oriented system of planning and building fed off the mentality that had grown around the Garden City Suburb and the reaction that people were forced into after the second Industrial Revolution. Anything that was seen as urban was associated with the conditions of the industrial city was viewed negatively.

Eventually, the emphasis was placed not on the quality of the design of public space such as Forrest Hills in Queens, Chestnut Hill in Pittsburgh, and Highland Park in Illinois, but on the quantity. More space – any space – became viewed as inherently good and desirable. With this mentality, everything had to be far apart and uses had to be separated to avoid any sort of physical connotation of the city. This led to pushing everything even farther apart, creating unwalkable distances and increasing dependence on the car. The concern then morphed into providing vast spaces of pavement to house the induced amount of necessary parking. Streets became about how many cars the road could accommodate so that people could drive to the parking lots. Strip malls and sprawl became the status quo and the quality of life suffered.

Because of this pattern of development, developers have become very sophisticated in how they build to target a specific market. They know that they are building to suit a specific age range with a specific income and a specific number of children and so on. We have been silo-ed into neat categories. It’s no wonder we have developed a society that fears or attacks those outside the group – we have built a place that encourages this very kind of thinking. With everything so separated out, it is necessary to drive and sidewalks tend to be little more than lip service to the squishy pink things we call human beings. Now we have epidemics of social isolation, chronic disease caused by sedentary lifestyles, pollution of our green spaces, and strategies to avoid being a victim of road rage. Not only do these unwalkable places not contribute much to our physical and mental health, they likely even contribute to a shortened life span – a far cry from the better life this approach promised.

The pendulum had now swung too far in the direction of separation. The reaction to an overcrowded, polluted urban area that only emphasized the utility of a person ultimately led to the destruction of green space to accommodate the fleets of cars necessary for people to live, additional carbon pollution, and a decrease in the health of the citizenry. Again, the eye was taken off the primary concern of inhabited areas. We forgot that people are more than just economic engines, or automobile pilots. Accommodating automobile traffic took on a disproportionate effect on how people would experience the world around them (and still does in many places today), not to mention the insidious practice of redlining that came along with it. Cities were emptied and density was viewed as synonymous with crime, dirtiness, and “those” people.

Since the 1980’s, the pendulum has been swinging toward the revitalization of major urban areas. The degrading quality of life, poor health, and financial strain on people and municipalities created by the suburban sprawl is now recognized and people have been moving back toward walkable, car-optional places to live. City streets are seen as places of economic opportunity as more and more people move back downtown. New funky neighborhoods have emerged, and people are migrating into these places while, at the same time, new greenfield main streets are being established. As these places become more popular, values went up – good news for cities, bad news for folks living below a certain pay scale.

We should take note that many people in this group have been hit on several sides of the pendulum swing. As we disinvested in our cities, people with enough resources to leave fled while others who were less affluent or considered desirable (redlining again) did not have the option. This group of people have had to grapple with rising unaffordability in their neighborhoods as they have been displaced or deal with disinvestment while other neighborhoods with increasing property values have received more attention. In short, those who could least afford it have taken the brunt of the effects our disinvestment and reinvestment have brought – an all-too typical outcome.

There is a common thread to the trends that were outlined above – pursuit of profit and a lack of true options. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to people making money; if you’ve worked hard, you should be fairly compensated for your effort (which is an issue in-and-of itself). However, when the scales are tipped so far that the idea that profitable development is the way only to be a successful city, this becomes a problem. It becomes further compounded when the rules make it the only way to build. Having options – diversifying the market so to speak – creates a more sustainable system. A duality is better, but marginally. Stresses on one side will cause the other to become overloaded. A variety of densities, amenities, prices, dwelling types, modes of transportation, etc. within and outside of the city brings true choice to people. It is this diversity of choices that will better address and serve us moving forward.

Some New Factors

Enter another factor – the millennial generation and a retiring boomer generation. Much of the new development in the past decade has been sized for and priced to young professionals with rising incomes or retirees with savings to spend. This has been a boon to revitalization but has forgotten that a city must address the needs of people in all stations of life. This type of development has outpaced public amenities – evidenced by pop-up parks, pop-up drive-in movie theaters, pop-up parties, pop-up pop-ups etc. While these are great ways to keep a city lively and incubate young businesses, this is foreshadowing – the pendulum is shifting.

As development has exploded, fewer and fewer people can afford to live downtown. There is no shortage of articles, seminars, focus groups, planning initiatives, etc. to address this very topic. Between the Great Recession, the pandemic, and other economic factors, strategies for housing have lagged the issue of affordability. Often the solutions presented seem to suggest smaller living spaces with shared areas as a way to keep costs down. This can carry us only so far. Now that the millennial generation is pushing their mid-thirties, some have started families or are thinking about it. They are now looking around at the amenities and services available to them through the lens of their children. How safe is the neighborhood? Where can we go to play? Can we afford a place with kids? How are the schools? Some, like myself, are already in this position. The big three in Detroit have recognized this. In 2019, both Ford and Chevrolet announced that they would be nearly eliminating cars from their lineup in favor of large SUVs and Mini Vans in anticipation of the new boom of millennial families. Car companies are already banking on the idea that people will be leaving the city to places where they will be driving their kids around to their various clubs, sports, and other extra curriculars.

The current pandemic has heightened the urgency of this question that many new families are facing now and brought it to the forefront. The number of articles and stories about people leaving cities because of coronavirus continues to grow. To combat this, articles have been written to argue that studies show that cities are less vulnerable to the pandemic than we think. Regardless of the studies and articles written about how safe cities are (and there are flaws in the conclusions drawn from the statistical reports in these articles), if people believe a certain thing, that is what they will use to make their decision. We have seen this in our brief review of history.

In addition to affordability, parks, plazas, and other open public spaces have become secondary thoughts as major cities are experiencing booms. As an example, the Brickell neighborhood of Miami has three and a half park spaces. One is surrounded by a wall and few know how to get in or even know that they can. I lived there for a whole year and didn’t realize I could go inside until after I moved out. One does have basketball courts and a playground (the only publicly available ones in the neighborhood), but it also has spotty grass, is fenced off, and accessible from one point. A third is a green space that leads to the water. This one is nice, however it could use shelters, or more infrastructure that encourages gathering. The half is a preservation site, tucked off in a corner with almost no other infrastructure features, or notable landscaping. All the other outdoor spaces are privately owned or housed within a tower. The last great public space location in this neighborhood is being developed. With increasing density and only one publicly available playground, where are families to play outside – especially families that can’t afford to live in the higher-end towers? The land values are now too great for the city to hope to buy a parcel, all they can do now is hope to work with a developer to create a small space. Again, the eye has been taken off the people of a city and their needs.

There had become a gathering desert with fewer places for people to relax, families to run around, and pets to go outdoors. The recent pandemic has highlighted how much these are missing and how important they are to the long-term sustainability of a city or town. Considering these topics, it should be no surprise that people are reacting to this situation in one form or another – moving out of town or driving to farther away places to access green and potentially spending their money there.

The Promise of Small Towns and Villages

This is where thinking about the region as a whole is so important. Small towns and villages have a lot of potential. These places are smaller than cities, are typically compact and consist of a handful of walkable neighborhoods. They typically have a variety of dwellings, a main street, parks, places for entertainment, schools, and other daily needs within a walking or biking distance. Towns and villages can work together with the cities that they surround to act as a region of options of places to live, work, grow up, and be happy. Interestingly, the increased ability to work from home in the recent pandemic may diminish and remove some barriers. My wife stays at home and works remotely. This enables her to walk into the village that we live near for a coffee, run a quick errand, or just to take a break. The towns and villages that have not exploded themselves using auto-oriented development can offer a walkable environment with dining and entertainment options that  new parents may be looking for, park spaces for the kids, and a more affordable price.

But what about the schools? A 2018 review of home buyers by Realtor.com has shown that nearly a quarter of people purchasing homes said that a good school district was an important factor in deciding where to buy a home. Of those, nearly three quarters were willing to give up on certain features. The most typical were garages, large back yards, updated kitchens, updated bathrooms. This shows how influential a school district is and how important it is to invest wisely in them. Reconsidering how we plan our school districts and design our schools also has an opportunity to create flexible towns and address the systemic inequality that has been enacted through planning for decades. This subject is very important and deserves greater discussion.

Currently, the number of places that are walkable, with good schools, and are affordable is small or difficult to find. It should be much easier – managing a job, kids, a relationship with a partner, and having personal time is hard enough as it is. This is where our towns and villages can both provide an option for places to live, and blossom through their own revitalization. We should be finding more ways to get resources to our towns and villages to enable them to rapidly address this growing need of options and make the lives of people easier. As we do this, we need to keep in mind that the pendulum pivots around the needs of people.

Is this the end of cities? No. As we know them? Probably, but when are things not changing? This is coming about because people with families are going to be forced to make a difficult decision – do we give up the things we like about city life for affordability, a bit more space, and good schools? The pendulum is swinging in a different direction than we have seen over the past two decades, but that does not mean the decline of cities, nor does it mean and a rush back to suburbia. This mindset is a one-or-the-other fallacy. We should be thinking about this differently. This is not a loss for cities, but an opportunity to take the same success that we have found in revitalizing our cities and put it to use in our towns and villages. An opportunity to truly provide options for people to live and make life just a bit easier. This pendulum is swinging in a different direction, or at least it wants to, we just have to make it possible.

Congratulations to newly elected FAICP members, Michael H. Long, AICP and John E. Steinmetz, AICP!

The Upstate NY Chapter is thrilled to announce that two Chapter members have been inducted into the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP). Please join us in congratulating Michael H. Long, AICP, and John E Steinmetz, AICP.

This designation of AICP Fellow is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a planner by the national American Planning Association (APA). Michael and John now join an elite group of planning professionals. Fellows of AICP are nominated and selected by their peers to recognize and honor their outstanding contributions to the planning profession.

Fellows of AICP are honored in recognition of the achievements of the planner as an individual, elevating the Fellow before the public and the profession as a model planner who has made significant contributions to planning and society. Fellowship is granted to planners who have been members of AICP and have achieved excellence in professional practice, teaching and mentoring, research, public and community service, and leadership.

Michael H Long, AICP was recognized for excellence in professional practice

Michael’s accomplishments, both through his public planning and volunteer work, are impressive and have left a legacy in the Upstate New York communities within which he has lived and worked. His dedication to the profession during his 39-year career is evidenced by his many years of service to and leadership on the New York Upstate Chapter board, section boards and as a mentor to young planners. As a role model and mentor, Mike has always helped to provide guidance and direction to anyone interested.  Working with students and interns through SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry’s School of Landscape Architecture, Cornell University’s Historic Preservation Program, and Cayuga Community College’s GIS program, Mike has always prioritized cultivating and mentoring the next generations of planners.

John E. Steinmetz, AICP was recognized for excellence in professional practice

John is the Senior Managing Community Planner with Barton & Loguidice’s Rochester office. Over his 25-year career, John has made long-lasting impacts not only on the communities in which he’s worked, but also with his creative and endless contributions to the practice of planning in our region. Steinmetz is a Hilton, NY resident and has served communities across the Finger Lakes and Western New York Regions as well as Western Pennsylvania. Over the years, he has helped numerous communities re-envision their future and achieve that vision through a wide range of planning and community development projects, including comprehensive plans, regulatory updates and zoning codes, farmland protection plans, active transportation studies, waterfront and downtown revitalization strategies, and plan implementation efforts.

Congratulations on your FAICP acceptance into the AICP College of Fellows to our Upstate NY APA Members, colleagues, and friends on your accomplishments and incredible impact.

Fore more information on the AICP College of Fellows, please visit https://www.planning.org/faicp