Ambler Campus, Temple University

This project received a 2012 Student Project Award from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association.

CRP PLANNING STUDIO

Associate Professor (Research) M. Richard Nalbandian,
MRP and MS, AICP

Studio Members: Kathleen F. Bilotta, Greg Bradley, Justin Cappiello, William Devine, Christopher R. Dougherty, Michael A. Eggleton, Louis Hoffer, Christopher D. Hurwitz, Amy Kim, Julia McCabe, Carlin McCoy, Yennaira L. Ortiz, Andrew N. Pennington, Eric M. Phelps, Thomas J. Spokas, Megan J. Stanley

This study believes what Chester Remakes will remake the very soul of the city and its residents. As the oldest urban settlement in the Commonwealth and once an industrial powerhouse, the city has both good “bones” and a legacy of environmental degradation. Yet, Chester stands at a unique point in its history. In many ways, Chester’s disinvestment has created new spaces for connectivity: connectivity between neighbors, between residents and the earth. The projects proposed in this study seek a more healthy integration of the built and natural environments—whether it‟s through a new trail, a revitalized Deshong Park, a restored wetland at Eyre Park, a more robust recycling program, or a pedestrian friendly business district filled with spaces that engender creativity. Since Chester was chosen by the White House as one of seven cities to participate in the Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) project all the projects within this study are scalable and manageable and can be implemented through coordination of Federal and local resources.

Our recommendations are informed by a socio-demographic analysis of a series of vulnerable sub-populations within Chester. With more than half the population under 18 years of age below the poverty line, our recommended investments in and around Deshong seek to create safe, fun, learning environments to supplement existing educational efforts. The prospects for teaching and mentorship around ecology, natural lands restoration, maintenance of stormwater infrastructure, and urban agriculture abound in a reprogrammed Deshong Park. Our trail project is situated in an area of low car ownership and a large population of residents over 65. Creating a built environment where older Chesterians can access food, recreation, and connect to community without a vehicle is a key objective of our plan.

To view the complete CRP Studio report, click here (large file, high speed internet connection recommended).

This project received a first place award from the Southeast Section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Pennsylvania Planning Association in 2011.

CRP PLANNING STUDIO

Associate Professor (Research) M. Richard Nalbandian,
MRP and MS, AICP

Studio Members: Andrew Dolby, Kathleen Lambert, Chloe Maher, Steve Monheim, Matthew Popek, and Matthew Weiss

The 2011 Temple University graduate studio of Community and Regional Planners have prepared this report to provide recommendations and ideas that further the sustainability efforts already begun by the Philadelphia Prison System (PPS) at its Northeast Philadelphia campus. We researched the history, current programs, site limitations, and future needs at PPS in order to shape our recommendations. Throughout this report, we use the terms “sustainable” and “greening” to describe a plan of action that includes the positive pursuit of the three principles of sustainability: environment, economics, and social equity. These three principles guide our planning decisions and the recommendations that we make.

Our recommendations include aesthetic landscape design improvements to the entrances and parking areas, and the addition of storm water control measures using rain gardens, swales, and green roofs to manage runoff, improve water quality, and reduce storm water management fees. Proposed alternative energy projects include micro-hydro power, wind turbines, and continued expansion of solar energy production. Further recommendations support the expansion of additional greenhouse and growing areas within the campus, including a six-acre nursery area with an adjoining food waste composting facility.

We conclude our report with recommendations on transportation including alternative parking layouts and strategies, alternative transportation strategies, and incentives for changes in transportation modes that include both bicycling and transit.

To view the complete CRP Studio report, click here (large file, high speed internet connection recommended).

This project received a 2012 Certificate of Merit from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association.

CRP PLANNING STUDIO

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HARRISBURG

Chair, Department of Community and Regional Planning Deborah Howe, Ph.D., FAICP

Studio Members: Chris Caba, Christina Mortensen, Brandon Porinchak

“Complete streets” is an emerging paradigm in modern community and regional planning. Transportation planning has historically focused on accommodating motorized vehicles—cars, trucks, etc. Conversely, the concept of complete streets focuses on all users, not just those in motor vehicles. A complete street is one that is physically designed to enable safe access for all users, regardless of age, ability, or transportation means. This design allows for bicyclists to ride freely, students to walk safely to school, and for public buses to operate smoothly.

The National Complete Streets Coalition (2011) notes that there is no one single approach for complete streets implementation as they are all built within a local context—whether or not the area is rural, suburban, or urban. A complete street plan may address a combination of infrastructure concerns such as sidewalks, bike lanes, intersections, public transit stops, median islands, curb extensions, travel lane widths, and parking needs.

The underlying thought is if a street is ‘complete’ more individuals will reduce their time spent using the automobile and increase their time walking, biking, or using other transit alternatives.

Hundreds of municipalities, cities, and states have established formal policies to promote complete streets. Examples include, but are not limited to, Sacramento, California; Eugene, Oregon; Minnesota; and Maryland. More recently, complete streets plans have sought to integrate environmental management concepts, such as vegetative
strips to manage stormwater runoff. Figure 1 shows a retrofitting of Prospect Park in New York City using complete streets principles. The New York City Department of Transportation reports a 16% decrease in crashes and an increase in weekday cycling among commuters.

To view the complete CRP Studio report, click here (large file, high speed internet connection recommended).

CRP PLANNING STUDIO

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HARRISBURG

Professor (Research) Jeffrey Featherstone, Ph.D.

Studio Members: Michael Barth, Yvette Homer, Molly Kaput, Georgia Kirkpatrick, Kyle Shenk, and Nicole Zarefoss

This studio studied the Greenbelt parcels to determine their ownership and protection status. The data in
the geographic information system were derived from a number of sources. Road, water, building
and zoning data were provided by the Dauphin County government. Aerial imagery was gathered
through the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA). We entered the zoning and maintenance
data information based on the files provided by and discussions had with the members of the
Capital Area Greenbelt Association.

Special attention was paid to those parcels that were not owned by the municipal, county or federal
governments. Research was done to determine whether the owners of these parcels had granted
an easement to CAGA or whether CAGA is using the property on a permissive basis. The county
zoning status of each parcel was compared to the path of the Greenbelt to assess any concerns
between the zoned use of those parcels and the Greenbelt itself.

The deliverables for this work were a geographic information system that is comprised of a
database containing information about the Greenbelt and maps displaying that information in a
spatial format. The database includes information about each parcel’s owner, location, zoning,
physical area, water features, buildings, identification in public records and aerial imagery. The
maps that were created from the database showed the Greenbelt in its regional context, an aerial
image of the Greenbelt, the Greenbelt as it relates to parcel zoning, green spaces and non‐green
spaces along the Greenbelt and the status of parcel protection along the Greenbelt. In addition, we
produced maps capturing a close up of each municipality that show many of the attributes
described above.

To view the complete CRP Studio report, click here (large file, high speed internet connection recommended).

This project received a first place award from the Southeast Section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Pennsylvania Planning Association in 2010.

CRP PLANNING STUDIO

Technical Design Team         Financial Analysis Team
Frances Getty                       Kyle Guie
Gavin Hontz                         Melissa Kim
Harry Wilson                        Mark Spiers

The purpose of this report is to present a general physical stormwater management plan for the Village of Arts
and Humanities in North Philadelphia, in cooperation with the Philadelphia Water Department’s (PWD) Office
of Watersheds.

The plan serves as a guide for future implementation of PWD’s Green City, Clean Waters report applied to the study area, or Context Area, bounded by Broad Street, 5th Street, Allegheny Avenue and Diamond
Street.

Our recommendations are guided by the Community Development Plan created by the Shared Prosperity Planning Initiative in 2005, a coalition of more than two dozen neighborhood and civic organizations including our client, The Village of Arts and Humanities (Village). However, the primary focus of our recommendations is based on an effort to meet PWD guidelines to capture one inch of stormwater runoff from land owned by the Village.

To view the complete CRP Studio report, click here (large file, high speed internet connection recommended).

CRP 8889 PLANNING STUDIO

SPRING 2009

Anna Boisnic, Kerrin Donnelly, Matthew Harris, David Manhardt, Nina Morris, Gin Tartamosa

Building upon President Hart’s commitment to creating a sustainable future for Temple University, the CRP graduate studio created a strategic plan to make the Ambler Campus the hub of sustainable activity.

The strategic plan uses the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) framework to guide Ambler Campus toward advancing sustainability in all sectors of higher education.

Some of the priority recommendations identified in the report include increasing the number of sustainability-focused courses, establishing a student sustainability outreach program to be lead by Eco-Reps, conducting an alternative energy feasibility study, creating a sustainability coordinator position for Ambler Campus, constructing the University’s first LEED certified building on Ambler Campus, and many more.

CRP 8889 PLANNING STUDIO

SPRING 2008

Andreea Ambrus, Christina Fink, Joseph Geib, Terrence Harrington, Straso Jovanovski, Colleen Kelly, Dan Kost, Sujin Park, Mari Radford, Jeanne Scanlon, Brian Tinneny, Alice Walters

By recommendation of the Upper Dublin Township (UDT) Environmental Protection Advisory Board (EPAB), with the support of the UDT Board of Commissioners, Upper Dublin Township engaged Dr. Lynn Mandarano and the graduate students enrolled in the Spring 2008 Community and Regional Planning Studio to conduct a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory. The students conducted the inventory using the Cities for Climate protection software developed by the Internaional Communities for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

The resulting study, among other things, offers recommendations for mitigating greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants emitted by government, residences, and businessed within UDT. The project sought to support the UDT's Sustainability Task Force's stated mission "to help identify local sustainability priorities and implement a long-term action plan for the benefit of the community."

In addition to conducting the audit, the students conducted research on what similar sized communities are doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and developed a list of 10 priority recommendations.

Out of the Water - A Revitalization Plan for the Fort Washington Office Park

CRP PLANNING STUDIO

FALL 2006

Stacey Blankin, James Ennis, Natalie Glasco, Allison Hamilton, Wendi Kapustin, Kenneth J. Kugel II, Cindy O'Connell, Patrick Stuart, and Brent Weaver

The Fort Washington Office Park offers a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate how man and nature can thrive together, turning a "constraint" into a model for the region by integrating ecological design principles and perhaps evening becoming an eco-model.

The Office Park has all of the necessary ingredients to succeed - location, visibility, population, and employees. It also has vast natural resources that could be restored and enhanced to create a strong sense of identity, enhance accessibility, and attract employers, employees, and the community.

To achieve this objective and mitigate the challenge of flooding, it is necessary to tie the goals of stormwater management, transportation and circulation, and identity together.

CRP PLANNING STUDIO

SPRING 2006

Keith M. Argue, Fred Conner, Amy M.M.P. Hurley, Joseph Nixon, and Jennifer Rezeli

These days, it is getting increasingly hard to keep track of all of the many independent initiatives underway for improving the city's quality of life. A unifying theme would go a long way in synergizing all the many ongoing public, private, and grassroots efforts. Further, aligning an integrated vision with a reasonable timeframe for actionable items would bring a sense of urgency to the endeavor.

Philadelphia's legacy of turning problems into solutions offers a handy theme and the next mayoral election cycle an expedient timeframe. The authors suggest that a series of signature projects along a path that includes the necessary visioning, disciplined planning, and education could transform Philadelphia into a cleaner and greener city by 2016.

Another essential element within this 10-year planning horizon is the establishment of meaningful and indicative metrics for tracking the City's progress in developing a sustainable Philadelphia.