Henry, Mac, Taylor, Sam

Traffic Flow: 

    For almost half of the walk, we were on Norwich, which is a one way street. This helps to direct traffic off of High Street, which is much busier. For the area, this street is relatively quiet. There is parking on both sides since it is a one way street, but it is only one lane of traffic. More than one lane of traffic is not needed here because the street is so quiet. There were not a lot of traffic signs in terms of speed limit markings along the route. Overall, we only counted 2. In Ohio, streets that are unmarked and within a municipality usually have a speed limit of 35 miles per hour. This seems to be a little high given that this is an area close to campus where a lot of students walk to and from class. The drivers we noticed appeared to be driving at a safe speed but again, there were few cars that passed us on this relatively quiet street. Having a lower speed limit or including more speed limit signs could be beneficial to this area. Not all drivers understand what speed they should be going or sometimes don’t notice how fast they are going if they don’t have a speed limit sign to base their speed off of. Other than that this road works well as a single lane, one way street. There is not enough traffic to recommend changing it to a two way street or even a two-lane one way street. 

Sidewalks:

Photo #1: Campus sidewalks            Photo #2: W Norwich

Photo #3: Gap                    Photo #4: Slope

Photo #5: Uneven                Photo #6: High Street

    Throughout our walk, the sidewalks drastically changed in both feel and condition. On campus, for instance, the sidewalks are very wide and many extend to the curb (photo 1). The sidewalks on campus are also well maintained with no evident cracks or gaps. These sidewalks make it feel like pedestrians are a main priority in the area, which makes sense given the volume of students at the university that use walking as their main form of transportation. As we turned on to W Norwich the sidewalks got narrower (approximately three feet across), barely fitting two people (photo 2). The sidewalks in the residential areas of our walk were also in poor condition. On Norwich the sidewalks have large cracks, gaps, and are uneven in places (photos 3, 4, and 5). The gaps and uneven sidewalks are hazardous for pedestrians, skateboarders, and bikes especially in dark and icy conditions. There are a variety of options for improving sidewalks on this portion of the walk. One option would be to remove the damaged blocks and repour the concrete, which would be fairly expensive. A cheaper alternative could be to fill in the cracks and shave down some of the concrete to make it more level and prevent potential pedestrian injury.

Street Width:

    Street width can be a determining factor in the overall feel of a neighborhood. With each aspect discussed, the width of the streets in question play a deciding role. Traffic flow can be over or under controlled, sidewalks can be allowed space to breathe and can require varying amounts of maintenance, and safety and accessibility for pedestrians can vary, all to some extent through the width of the street involved.                Beginning with our walk up Tuttle Park Place we were struck by the width of the street being much more than the traffic required. The road likely sees little pedestrian traffic crossing it because of its proximity to the edge of campus. Tuttle Park Place may see more foot traffic during sporting events, but the width of the road plays a small roll because of the expectation that the road will be closed for these events. Along our section of Neil Avenue the width of the road is serving the service needs of campus buildings and needs little to no adjustment. Moving into the neighborhood north of Campus, Norwich is (as previously stated) a one way which allows the street’s width to be focused on street parking for the mainly student population. Norwich seems wide enough for the traffic it handles (photo 2); the one way nature of the avenue creates the atmosphere of a residential neighborhood. Turning onto High Street the roadway widens dramatically (photo 6) because High Street serves as one of the two major thoroughfares for Columbus. Although High Street is frequently congested widening it would probably do more harm than good because of the university and businesses immediately flanking it. Overall the street widths on our walk served the purposes they were meant for.

Street Safety:

 The campus area had very reasonable street safety. There were ample opportunities to cross the street, although many people still jaywalked and created a potentially dangerous environment. The usual crossing time was 10-15 seconds, which is generally enough but could be tight for slower walkers or large groups. Around campus, the sidewalk was usually very well maintained and had only minor cracks that were not overly dangerous. The sidewalks were large enough to accommodate several people and allow people space to walk around any potential hazards. Off campus, the safety was much more varied. While many areas were fine, there were some obviously unsafe areas. The sidewalks felt much narrower, making it difficult to navigate and avoid collisions, as well as forcing people to walk on the street or through hazards. In some sections, especially at a parking lot near Lane, the sidewalk seemed to blend into the surrounding area. Large areas of the sidewalk would be cracked or uneven, creating a serious tripping hazard. On one section of Norwich, it appeared that several sidewalk tiles were missing and slanted, creating a serious hazard. While we felt that campus would quickly deal with any accumulated snow or ice, we did not feel the same about off campus areas. There was still some snow left over from the weekend, and it is easy to imagine the sidewalks getting icy and slick. There were also few opportunities to cross the street. While there was not much traffic when we went, this could pose a serious issue during more congested periods. Creating more visible crossing areas, clearing and maintaining the sidewalks, and trying to clearly label and expand pedestrian areas would greatly improve the safety of the off campus area. 

Accessibility: 

The campus area walk signs provides audible walk cues, a great asset to the vision impaired. Expanding this to the surrounding area would be a big step in increasing accessibility. Almost all curbs we encountered had ramps, although some seemed steep or poorly maintained. Some of the poor maintenance discussed in the safety section is especially dangerous for people with disabilities. The uneven sidewalks could be a major obstacle for people in wheelchairs, as well as the vision impaired who may not be able to detect the uneven ground. We also felt that many of the sidewalks were too narrow for wheelchairs or walkers, especially if people are walking in both directions. This makes it difficult for wheelchair users to navigate, and possibly  contributing to feelings that they are being a burden or holding people back by blocking the flow of traffic. This is less noticeable on the wide campus sidewalks, and expanding the off campus sidewalks as much as possible would be a major improvement. 

Hazard: Hurricane Ike (2008)

Mac, Henry, Sam, Taylor

Overview

Trajectory and storm category of Hurricane Ike (“Story Map Journal”)

At the end of August 2008, Ike formed near Africa’s west coast, and was upgraded to hurricane status on September 3rd. Several days later, Ike made landfall as a category 4 hurricane on the Turks and Caicos Islands. Ninety-five percent of the houses on Grand Turk and South Caicos Islands were damaged. Seventy to eighty percent of the houses on the Great Inagua Island were also damaged and 25% were virtually destroyed. Over 2.5 million Cubans were evacuated before Ike hit the eastern side of the island, severely damaging crops (banana, coffee, corn) and roadways. Galveston, Texas was the site of the hurricane’s final landfall on September 13th (“2008- Hurricane Ike”; “Story Map Journal”). Although downgraded to a category 2 hurricane, Ike had a category 5 storm surge which flattened most structures on the Bolivar Peninsula and caused significant erosion of Galveston beaches. High winds broke windows on Houston skyscrapers and caused power outages to some coastal residents for over a month (“2008- Hurricane Ike”). Nearly 10,000 people were left jobless due to structural damage to buildings and businesses. In addition, thousands of ranch animals were killed and Louisiana’s seafood industry suffered losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The adverse effects of Ike also impacted the oil and gas industry along the Gulf Coast. Pipelines and offshore oil rigs were destroyed and 22 Texas-based oil refineries were shut down which caused an increase in gas prices to almost $5 per gallon (“Story Map Journal”). Making its way through the midwest, the final effects of Ike were felt in Canada. The storm caused an electrical malfunction in the Montreal subway system and brought record rainfall to Ontario (“2008- Hurricane Ike”). In the end with wind speeds reaching 145 mph, Hurricane Ike was ultimately responsible for nearly 200 deaths, 112 were in the United States, and approximately $35 billion in property damage across Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas (“2008- Hurricane Ike”; “Story Map Journal”).

Works Cited

“2008- Hurricane Ike.” Hurricanes,

http://www.hurricanescience.org/history/storms/2000s/ike/.

“Story Map Journal.” Arcgis.com,

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=897f27c8b7324133b28a1472a74ef37.

Communication

(“Story Map Journal”)                (Krauss & Mckinley 2008)

    Hurricane Ike received extensive coverage, especially on September 13, 2008, after it made landfall in Texas. One article, titled “Storm Damage is Extensive and Millions Lose Power,” appeared in the New York Times. Over two million residents in coastal Texas and Louisiana fled in anticipation of the hurricane, while more than 100,000 disregarded the mandatory evacuation. When this article was published, only four deaths had been reported, but the reporter acknowledged that it could be several days before the full extent of damage was assessed. The article also described damage to major cities in Texas which included sheets of steel pulled from skyscrapers, the main highways covered in debris, and at least 100,000 houses flooded. In addition, more than three million people were left without power, and experts predicted restoration could take weeks (Krauss & Mckinley 2008). A few days later, on September 15, 2008, an article called “U.S. Death Toll from Hurricane Ike Rises to 33,” was published by CBC News. By this time, Hurricane Ike had moved into the midwest. The death toll reported in this article was significantly higher than the previous article. Two days after hitting Texas, there were 33 reported deaths across nine states. The CBC News article confirmed the material impact reported by the Times, namely that millions were without power and thousands were in temporary shelters after their houses were destroyed (“U.S. Death Toll from Hurricane Ike” 2008). On October 4, 2008, the New York Times reported an update titled “Three Weeks After Storm, a Grim Task of Recovery.” The focus of the article was efforts to save stranded residents. Volunteers and rescue workers used dogs to find human remains, but officials feared that some victims were lost to the sea and marshes. Hurricane Ike left coastal areas in ruins as debris from houses, cars, and machinery were scattered across the land (Mckinley 2008). Collectively, these articles reveal that following Hurricane Ike’s landfall in Texas, there was an increase in details and extent of damage as officials gathered more information and rescue teams searched debris. 

Works Cited

Krauss, Clifford, and James C. Mckinley. “Storm Damage Is Extensive and Millions Lose

Power.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Sept. 2008,

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/14ike.html.

Mckinley, James C. “Three Weeks After Storm, a Grim Task of Recovery.” The New

York Times, The New York Times, 4 Oct. 2008,

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/us/05missing.html.

“U.S. Death Toll from Hurricane Ike Rises to 33 | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio

Canada, 15 Sept. 2008,

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-death-toll-from-hurricane-ike-rises-to-33-1.756856.

Vulnerability

Hurricane Ike exposed many vulnerabilities in the communities that were affected by the storm. One main vulnerability that was observed in many communities was the lack of preparation for flooding. Many homes were destroyed that were at the previous BFE or Base Flood Elevation (Mitigation). By increasing this minimum requirement, homes could be more resilient to flooding on a major level as what happened during Hurricane Ike. Foundations of many homes were also found to be very weak and thus, many ended up collapsing during the storm. This was mainly due to erosion from the storm and the lack of embedment of the foundation poles (Mitigation). Some lessons learned, according to FEMA, were to elevate critical facilities such as schools and hospitals, which were previously prone to flooding and to remove aggregate roofs from buildings in downtown Houston, which have a tendency to throw rocks around during strong wind events, potentially causing damage to nearby buildings and people. These cities were not as prepared as they originally thought when it came to flooding, the policies put into place after Hurricane Rita were meant to prevent major losses from future hazards but many of these policies were not as strong as they could be. In lower income neighborhoods, many homes only passed the basic requirements when it came to BFE. These homes were heavily damaged during the storm as a result. Minorities suffered greater degrees of loss during the storm. In many cases, families lost everything. Property values in these lower income neighborhoods took longer to recover from the storm (Van Zandt). Many residents living in these low income neighborhoods that were heavily affected by the storm were displaced. This is the result of not having the funds to rebuild, therefore residents had to move somewhere else, away from their homes (Van Zandt). The lack of disaster preparation in these communities lead to the failure of these systems during Hurricane Ike. The most vulnerable were exposed to the worst elements of the storm without any system of support. There was little room for error when Hurricane Ike made landfall. It was the ultimate test of resiliency and many vulnerabilities were exposed in these communities. 

Works Cited

“Mitigation Assessment Team Report on Hurricane Ike.” Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA, https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1708-25045-9713/hurricane_ike_mat__short.pdf

Van Zandt, Shannon. “Poor and Minority Impacts from Hurricane Ike.” Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center, Texas A&M, https://hrrc.arch.tamu.edu/_common/documents/poor%20and%20minority%20impacts.pdf

Future improvements

One issue that arises during the communication stage of disaster response is overloading of information. There are many agencies and departments trying to convey information, and it can be overwhelming to both the physical equipment and the population. Important messages can get lost and unimportant information can be frequently repeated when this initial surge of information begins. Furthermore, it is difficult for people in crisis to break down complex messages and store complicated information, especially when presented with a lot of it. Agencies must quickly collaborate and coordinate messaging ensuring that only the most crucial information is shared as concisely as possible. The John Space Center post-hurricane analysis suggested that agencies should limit themselves to 1-2 sentences per agency (JSC). This helps prevent information overload and makes sure only the most important information is conveyed. Having an interdepartmental collaboration task force established before the storm season and communicating regularly during the storm/response can help mitigate this information overload. 

Another major issue was efficiently examining and reporting damage and preparing a response. Many homes were visited more than necessary and data was incompletely or inaccurately reported due to poor planning and resource management. Having a comprehensive data reporting and organization method prepared beforehand will greatly aid recovery time. This includes contingency plans for damaged equipment or infrastructure such as cell towers or power lines. There should also be a detailed procedure for how to collect the data, including the order it should be collected and how it should be shared with a central database to avoid duplication. This plan should be reviewed before every storm season to make sure it is updated and applicable to the current environment. 

Finally, there were reports of skepticism among residents about how serious the hurricane would be (Tolson). The area is frequently issued storm and hurricane warnings, many of which prove inconsequential. As a result, many people were unprepared for the storm and did not do enough to prepare. Improving dialogue between officials and individuals in the community about the seriousness of the storms and educating about the dangers associated with non-compliance with orders is essential in preparation for disaster. Building trust within the community can ensure that everyone understands the magnitude of the situation and trusts that officials are acting in their best interest. Individuals should also have an action plan and understand how to monitor the storm and react accordingly. Developing these programs and fostering trust and education within the community will help facilitate quicker and more effective responses to further hurricanes. 

JSC Hurricane Ike Lessons Learned Report. Office of the Director, Johnson Space Center, May 2009, https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/outreach/final_ike_report.pdf.

Tolson, Mike. “5 Lessons We Could Learn from Hurricane Ike.” Houston Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, 5 Aug. 2011, https://www.chron.com/news/hurricanes/article/5-lessons-we-could-learn-from-Hurricane-Ike-1731517.php.

Implementation

Certainly no strategy for greater preparedness will come without complications and setbacks. It is the nature of a hurricane to create issues, whether that is minimal (knocking power out for a few hours), or well beyond an inconvenience, in the case of a loss of life. Even without perfect strategies there are always improvements to be made. 

Information overload can be minimized by limiting agencies to 1-2 sentences to communicate what they have to, and a task force can be an ideal way to ensure agencies meet that guideline and do not share conflicting or overlapping information. For putting this strategy into practice we move beyond the theoretical and deal with the problem of each storm being different and therefore presenting different challenges. Some agencies may see communicating with the public as essential to their mission, while others may find that less important to their role. Agencies involved with bringing power back on line or distributing rations may require more than the recommended 2 sentences to address everything they need to. Agencies that are more interested in monetary aid distribution or coordination may find public communication less necessary. Possible solutions could be a cap on overall public communication so that the public isn’t overwhelmed yet agencies who need the extra space for information are not limited. Another idea is to have the task force assess individual storms and decide on communication limits through this analysis.

Creating contingency plans and having a centralized data reporting system can create less confusion but it can also lead to increased confusion. Collecting data in a central database can overwhelm individual agencies who only require a fraction of the data being collected and it would cause a backlog of data requests. Contingency plans may also be unable to foresee all scenarios. Having data distribution plans and a system for requesting data from a central location may be able to minimize these potential issues.

It is essential to make sure information is communicated and the public trusts that information. It is necessary to give out warnings even when they are ultimately unnecessary because storm predictions are not 100% accurate, but this means people immediately underestimate the next storm. Building trust is important but one program to build trust will not get the job done. Some areas may require different forms of outreach. Those in housing that is not built for storm resistance may need to take greater heed of warnings than others and their needs for preparation will differ as well. To minimize this imbalance in community outreach it may be necessary for a neighborhood by neighborhood trust building program rather than a general storm awareness program.

CCDC: Mac, Henry, Sam, Taylor

Residences at Career Gateway

The front of the property from E Whittier St. (#1)     Parking lot with fence (Google Maps) (#2)

Landscaping and litter in front of the property (#3)

Site Evaluation

Overall, the property matches the surrounding homes in the community fairly well. The architecture is very similar as well as the materials used on the outside of the home. The brick and the vinyl siding matches that of other homes in the community. One main difference is that the building is an apartment building that spans an entire block. Most of the other homes in this neighborhood are single-family, two story units. The Residences are three stories and are much larger since they are all connected. The building is very clean and attractive looking. It definitely improves the look and feel of the neighborhood. The Residences at Career Gateway was built in 2017 and has been well maintained to date. The long term maintenance should be minimal given the construction and landscaping materials utilized. The building has grey vinyl siding and white trim. Grey will not show dirt and vinyl holds up well against weathering (photo #1). The rear of the property including the parking lot is surrounded by black iron fencing which can easily be cleaned and inspected for rust (photo #2). The landscaping includes trees, grass, plants and bushes. The greenery will need to be trimmed, mowed and mulched for upkeep. The parking lot will require a new coat of sealant as it ages and the parking lines will need to be repainted as they weather. There were no visible signs of litter in the back portion of the building which has trash cans and a supply of dog waste bags. However, the front of the building may benefit from the addition of trash cans as there was some visible litter in front of the building when I visited the property (photo #3). The land near this property is used mostly for residential use, however, there is a small grocery store across the street, on the corner of East Whittier St and Carpenter St. If the search radius is expanded five or more blocks, other businesses such as a carry out, restaurant, barber shop, and automotive care shop can be found.

Boarded up house across the street (#4)          Remodeled house across the street (#5)

House and shops across the street (#6)

Secondary Effects

    Many people believe that affordable housing promotes crime. There were 27 crimes occurring within 500 feet of the Residences at Career Gateway, 80 within 1000 feet, 141 within ¼ mile, and 500 crimes occurring within a ½ mile. The three most common types of crimes committed include burglary from auto, assault, and theft. Within 1000 feet of the property, the amount and type of crime varied. Most crimes, specifically assaults took place to the east of the property while areas to the west had the greatest number of burglaries from auto. However, the crime pattern shifted when the radius was increased to ½ mile. The magnitude of crime was higher in areas to the west of the property specifically along Parsons Avenue which appears to be a hotspot. There was no specific pattern as to types of crime at the ½ mile radius, the types were equally distributed to the east and west of the property. The Residences at Career Gateway does not appear to be promoting crime as it is concentrated elsewhere. The absence of burglary from auto at the Residences is likely attributed to the iron fence surrounding the parking lot (photo #3). As seen in the photo #4, there are boarded up homes near Residences, however, nearby homes are in the process of being renovated and improved (photo #5). While the residential area is improving, the commercial establishments are in disrepair (photo #6) and experiencing criminal activity. Overall, the area near the property is improving, but more work needs to be done (LexisNexis®).

Another common association with affordable housing is that it diminishes property values. Within 500 feet of these affordable housing units, homes range from $80-$150k. Within 1000 feet, the range rises to 120-200k. Within .25 miles the range jumps even higher to 100-520k. This difference in range may not necessarily be because of the affordable housing in that area though. The rise in prices may just reflect different housing demand in certain areas of the city. If an area is in high demand then the houses will be worth more money. Many believe that affordable housing units will lower the value of their homes when they go to sell but this is not entirely true. When looking at neighborhood homes to compare prices, realtors do not look at apartment units, which make up a large amount of affordable housing. They instead look at homes similar in style and size. Affordable housing units therefore would not be compared when selling a home in most cases. Some local schools in the area received lower scores according to GreatScores. Livingston Elementary School and South High School both received scores of 2 out of 10, which are on the lower end of the scale. There is much room for improvement in these schools (Zillow).

Weinland Park Homes

Front view of 1215 N Grant Ave. (#1)            View of Properties down the street with contrasting condos                               and single plot homes (#2)                                           

Enclosed yard with garage and alley access (#3)           Older duplexes to the west of 1215 N Grant Ave. (#4)

View of Condo construction directly across the street (#5)

Site Evaluation

The home specifically at 1215 N Grant is a relatively new construction that seems to be a part of a larger construction effort to expand an existing neighborhood to its immediate west. The home is a two story stand alone sitting on a lot much larger than the building itself, which is allowing for a front porch and space in front and back for flower beds and lawns (Photo #1). The house and those like it are mimicking the architectural style of older, nearby homes, despite those older homes generally being duplexes with a larger footprint (Photo #4). The building materials seem to be a mixture of shingle, and wood siding. Overall the construction materials suggest an attempt towards economical choices while maintaining an attractive suburban aesthetic. Moving around the construction this same aesthetic is maintained through simple fencing and a garage facing a shared alley (Photo #3). The property is well kept up, evident by close-cut grass and a flower bed running around the property that clearly has been shown care (Photo #1). Everything is clean as a whistle and there is ample parking, streetside and in a personal garage. Trees are young and in good health, suggesting the property is new and the city is showing the neighborhood care. The street itself is slightly torn up on the opposite side, but likely is a result of the ongoing construction across the street, rather than a result of neglect. 

Nearby is almost entirely residential; a few lowrise warehouses are the only exception. The majority of that housing is standalone lots but down the street is a condo construction that sits in complete contrast to these houses, and directly across the street there is ongoing construction of duplexes or condos on lots of their own       (Photo #2 and #5). Outside of the immediate neighborhood there are a wide variety of businesses including a Kroger that likely serves for the vast majority of grocery needs.

Secondary Effects

    Especially when compared to the Residences at Career Gateway, crime is relatively rare in the area immediately surrounding the Weinland Park Homes. Only 1 crime, a commercial burglary, was committed within 500 feet of the property, 8 crimes within 1000 feet, 16 within .25 miles, and 126 within .5 miles. The overwhelming majority of cases were property crimes, with 68 of the 126 crimes categorized as theft, and a further 53 categorized as motor vehicle theft, burglary, or robbery. There were 5 cases of aggravated assault, but these primarily occurred near High Street, an area frequented by college students. Indeed, the larger trend of the area seems to be that many of the incidents originate in and around High Street and the Short North, likely stemming from the high volume of tourists, bar-goers, and college students (not the presence of public housing). The streets immediately surrounding the Weinland Park Homes are actually remarkably safe, with the community bounded by Grant and 4th to the east and west respectively, and 5th and 7th to the south and north having no reported crime in the last 6 months. This could be attributed to how integrated into the community the houses are, as opposed to one central housing facility that could be a target or hub for criminal activity. On the whole, the Weinland Park neighborhood could reasonably be described as safe and crime is not a major concern. 

    Looking at z-estimates for the surrounding houses, it is interesting to observe the houses that are marked affordable in contrast to their neighbors. Houses just across the street from each other vary greatly in their value. Within 500 feet, the houses are clustered around $175k or $350-400k with no clear gradient. At 1000 feet, homes in the $200-300k range become common, but there are still many houses above and below that range, topping out around $425k and bottoming out at $65k. This is roughly the same distribution as seen at .25 miles, indicating that the public housing is relatively homogeneous with the surrounding community. It is, by nature, more affordable than many of the surrounding homes, but it does not appear to have made a significant impact on their property values given that there is not a noticeable rise in home prices as the area expands. Given that this area is roughly halfway between Ohio State’s campus and the downtown area, it is likely to be popular with commuters to both areas. This demand helps support home prices and generate value in the community. With that said, the area suffers greatly from an underperforming school district. The local elementary school (Weinland Park Elementary) and high school (Whetstone) scored just 3/10 according to GreatSchools, with the middle school (Dominion) only marginally better with a 5/10. This poor educational system makes it more likely that at risk families will be stuck in the cycle of poverty and that future generations will continue to rely on public assistance. While Weinland Park is a relatively desirable location, the poor school system is a major negative factor in assessing the area.

Bibliography

• Google Maps, Google, www.google.com/maps/@39.9880693,-83.0468766,15z, https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9897861,-82.9932228,13.7z. 
• “LexisNexis® Community Crime Map.” LexisNexis® Community Crime Map, communitycrimemap.com/.
• “Real Estate, Apartments, Mortgages & Home Values.” Zillow, www.zillow.com/find-your-home/.

Within a city, zoning laws for commercial, residential and mixed use areas facilitate land use and impact the aesthetics of an area. Spaces around college campuses can pose unique issues for planners due to density, the transient nature of student residents, and the need for specific types of commercial businesses. Student populations have a greater demand for lower income housing options, fast food restaurants, and budget retail outlets.

Real Estate Company        Difference north and south of Lane        Ohio Stater Apartments

Residential housing areas are rather uniform along Neil Avenue between Lane and Norwich with the exception of a single real estate company. The company may have wanted a close proximity to the properties they manage and rent. At the end of Norwich moving onto High Street there is a drastic shift from residential to retail establishments. However, this transition is softened by locations north of Lane having housing above lower level retail outlets. Lane Avenue serves as the dividing line for primarily residential neighborhoods to mixed use properties. The area north of Lane Avenue houses small businesses with brick facades. In stark contrast to the old brick fronts, at the intersection of Lane and High there is a tall modern building. The east side of High Street opens the way to a stretch of chain-restaurants opposite the University area. The Ohio Stater Apartments and similar developments currently under construction stand out against the surrounding retail spaces. Given the high demand for housing it is reasonable to have apartments above retail establishments.

Duplexes 2-2.5 stories                Stucco versus siding

Appropriate spacing between houses            Narrow spacing on Norwich near High Street

Structures give character that define areas around campus as being adjacent to campus, near campus, or a part of their own neighborhoods. Structural characteristics can go hand in hand with the building spacing. Shops can be pressed together while houses and duplexes tend to stand alone on their lots. Along the walk, houses/duplexes were consistently two or two and a half stories tall. The architecture began to vary along Norwich where one side of the street had consistent horizontal siding, standing juxtaposed to the stucco houses opposite. Housing remained on separate plots up until apartment buildings came into the picture. As we moved closer to High Street spacing became more cramped, but houses remained stand-alone. (Pictures of spacing are from Google Maps)

Difference in sidewalk width

Setbacks for properties can give areas character while also being a more subtle descriptor of neighborhoods. On Norwich, sidewalks become more narrow than those on Neil so that only two could fit abreast. More narrow sidewalks can give the area a residential feel. Neil feels less residential because of its wider sidewalks and less crowded appearance. Norwich being a one-way street also creates a more intimate city neighborhood environment because of the limitation on through traffic and the shift towards parking being a priority for residents. Within the different zones, it seemed that the setbacks were rather consistent, and it was noticeable when a shift from one zone to another occurred. This had an impact on how the property was viewed, and gave houses with larger setbacks a feeling of importance or increased comfort, while the housing that was closer to the sidewalk felt cramped. (Picture above is from Google Maps)

Parking on Neil Avenue

Parking is essential for both the residential areas and businesses. Residents, commuters, and business guests must be able to stay in a location. Small parking lots are characteristic of apartments along the route, and are extremely necessary. The street parking along Neil and Norwich were completely full during our walk. The fact that Norwich was a battle for parking speaks to the crowded nature of the neighborhood considering again that it is a one-way street. Opportunities for more parking are limited considering the building use and structural characteristics in the area. It also seemed that the majority of the parking was designed for locals (permitted or designated parking zones), which makes it hard for visitors. This makes sense in the primarily residential areas, but it is easy to imagine someone circling for a long time trying to find a spot.

Overall, the area surrounding the university is very clearly sectioned off into zones. We walked through obviously academic, residential, and commercial zones, with relatively little mixing. Additionally, these districts had distinct characteristics that made it apparent which one you were in. Given the high priority of these types of areas to university students, it makes sense that each would have a clearly defined space in the greater campus area. 

Mac, Henry, Taylor

Problem 1: LA County Housing Crisis

A planning problem facing Los Angeles county is a shortage of low income housing. Over the last 18 years, median rents increased by 32% while median renter incomes decreased 3%. Currently, residents spend approximately 47% of their monthly income on housing. This percentage is higher than in any other major city in the United States. The lack of affordable housing is fueling an increase in homelessness. There was a 16% increase in the number of people who became homeless for the first time from 2017 – 2018. Many areas like Skid Row can be found throughout the county. Tents, shopping carts, bicycles, and mattresses line city streets. The proliferation of tents impedes the ability of police officers to identify drug dealers and human traffickers. There are currently about 60,000 homeless people and many more low income wage earners struggling to maintain their current housing. Homeless shelters are operating beyond capacity. Paying utility bills and buying food are sacrificed to pay rent. Residents are dismayed by the urban blight while the homeless and working poor are frustrated by an inability to secure stable housing. The county estimates that over 516,000 affordable housing units need to be added just to meet the current demand of low income renters.

Articles:

• https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/18/politics/los-angeles-homeless-crisis/index.html 
• https://la.curbed.com/2019/5/21/18634232/los-angeles-affordable-housing-shortage-how-much-need 
• https://everyoneinla.org/4-reasons-need-affordable-housing-la-now/ 

Advocate approach:

The advocacy planning style could be used to tackle the affordable housing shortage in Los Angeles. Strategies utilized by this style could include the use of rent control. New builds and/or existing structures should have rent ceilings that do not exceed 30% of the monthly earnings made by a full time minimum wage employee. Similarly, the county could reallocate funds currently being spent on addressing disorder problems to subsidize rentals for low income families. This would be more affordable than new builds. Refurbished shipping containers and new 3D printed houses could be used to provide new housing opportunities. Both are cheaper than new builds and can be implemented in a more timely manner. There are pros and cons to the advocacy planning approach. This approach would greatly improve the quality of life for homeless and low income residents. It would promote self esteem and enable these residents to feel valued. Having a stable home would facilitate securing and maintaining employment. Crime and aggressive panhandling would likely diminish along with other signs of disorder in downtown and tourist areas. Tax dollars dedicated to cleaning up these areas would be saved. This approach to the housing crisis, however, could be hard to implement if powerful community stakeholders were opposed to the idea. Property owners who would forgo income from rent increases may oppose these planning strategies. Residents in areas where new affordable housing would be added could be another source of opposition. Middle income residents may not want shipping containers or 3D homes in their neighborhoods for fear it would diminish property values. In the end, while directly benefiting the underprivileged renters and homeless, this planning style will improve the physical environment of the city in a fiscally responsible manner.

Consensus builder approach:

There are also pros and cons to a consensus builder approach. A consensus builder would look at the ideas of businesses, the government, and low income community members when proposing a solution for the housing crisis in Los Angeles. The businesses, for instance, have a vested interest in the downtown area. They want it to be appealing to tourists and free of signs of disorder. The government has a similar interest due to taxes brought in from tourists frequenting local businesses, hotels, and restaurants. They want the city of Los Angeles to have a positive reputation in attempts to draw new businesses to start up or relocate. Low income community members want affordable housing. One consensus builder approach may be to build affordable housing near public transportation hubs. With affordable housing and access to transportation, low income individuals can afford to take the lower paying jobs that often go unfilled but play an important role in the overall functioning of the area. This would also be a benefit for business owners, as it fills their need for employees. Another idea is to have inclusionary zoned areas. A predetermined percent of new builds in non low income areas would be dedicated to affordable housing. In exchange for accommodating multi-unit low income housing, single family homes receive a property tax reduction. In addition, LA voters have already approved $1.2 billion in funding for the development of affordable housing, which shows community support. The state’s No Place Like Home program also has more funding available which will reduce the amount needed by taxpayers and the state. One pro to the consensus builder approach is that all sides benefit in some way. Taking all sides into account promotes a true sense of community because different groups are working together toward a common goal. These ideas could also reduce the cycle of poverty that homeless and low income children are likely to succumb to. A disadvantage of this approach is that the government, taxpayers, and businesses will bear the majority of the cost. Also, there is no way to ensure that all parties will benefit equally. Some groups will ultimately benefit more than others. It may also be difficult to get the parties involved to agree on specific plans which could make the process long and laborious.

Problem 2: Hong Kong Housing Crisis

Articles 

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2125641/does-hong-kong-have-housing-crisis-answer-depends-whether-you

https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-hong-kong-housing-island-20190403-story.html

https://www.todayonline.com/owning-home-impossible-dream-say-hong-kong-youth-frustrated-over-citys-housing-crisis

Similarly, Hong Kong is facing a major housing crisis. Housing in Hong Kong is the most expensive in the world, with the cost increasing 400% since 2003. Average rent, which can be over $2,000 a month, is growing much faster than income, which means the problem is only getting worse. Furthermore, many properties require high deposits or fees that make them impossible to rent for low income renters, or renters who could afford the monthly rent but not the upfront cost. Roughly 45% of the country lives in subsidized public housing, but the demand is much greater than the supply. Many young professionals view owning a home as an unrealistic goal, and have resigned themselves to sharing cramped rooms or living in “coffin homes” that are barely big enough to accommodate one. This partially stems from the high density of Hong Kong, which is one of the most dense areas of the world. Despite this density, the majority of the territory is actually undeveloped. The government has designated large swaths of the country as protected parks or agricultural assets, rejecting development and constraining the population’s expansion. 

Entrepreneurial Approach

One possible approach is entrepreneurial based development of housing. Many in Hong Kong feel that the government does not listen to the concerns of the people, so it may be beneficial to switch to a private solution. Under this plan, government restrictions on land use would be lifted, allowing entrepreneurs to develop the land as they see fit. In the event that the government does not want to give up all of their control, they could also relax restrictions and allow entrepreneurs to bid for projects or compete for funding that would go towards improving housing conditions. This approach has many potential benefits. The newly competitive market would create competition and help drive down prices as companies compete for business. The competition would also encourage innovative solutions, especially if the government is willing to fund them, and offer alternatives to citizens. Additionally, if restrictions on land use were relaxed, private companies could more efficiently allocate the land and expanding the livable area of the territory. While these benefits are promising, there are some strong negatives to consider. It is very possible that entrepreneurs could collude, or that a monopoly or oligopoly will develop in the housing market. This could exacerbate the problem further, leading to even higher prices and less supply, as oligopolies inefficiently produce resources. With the high number of Hong Kongers living in publicly subsidized housing, it is possible that the economy can not actually support profit driven housing. Without government aid, many citizens would be unable to afford any housing at all, which is a step in the wrong direction. Finally, a large portion of the restricted land is protected to preserve the quality of water on the island. A purely entrepreneurial approach where these restrictions are relaxed or erased could have serious environmental consequences. For this reason, many environmental activists oppose this solution.

Neutral Public Servant Approach

 In stark contrast to the entrepreneurial approach, the planners could also act as neutral public servants. A neutral public servant uses their expertise to help the community enact their plan, but does not offer their opinions or tell the community what they should do. This could be especially powerful in Hong Kong in light of recent protests against the government. Hearing from those who are directly impacted and figuring out how to best serve them could be a powerful tool to alleviate tensions. There is a fair case that those living through the crisis might have the best ideas for how to fix it. That said, the approach is potentially problematic. With such a complex problem, it is possible that there will not be a clear public consensus for how to proceed. With many diverse opinions, the planner may have to make decisions that appear to be opinionated. With the charges of a corrupt or unresponsive government, any appearance that the neutral public servant is not truly neutral could be destructive to the public sentiment. Furthermore, it is possible that the public’s plan will not be comprehensive or effective long term. The planner can help advise against this, but ultimately if the public wants a short term solution the planner must help them enact it. This could make other styles, like consensus builder, more effective, as they add in more diverse perspectives and create more compromise.

Existing Conditions:

The problem site we selected is a piece of land housing two sand volleyball courts. These courts are located on West Woodruff Avenue between Curl Market and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church; it’s a large piece of land that is under-used and could be revitalized to improve its appearance and usability. Students rarely use the volleyball courts during the academic year (largely due to the overwhelming cold), and during fall semester, many students spend their weekends at the football games/parties cheering on the Buckeyes. Free time during the winter months is largely spent indoors. More importantly, there are two other sets of sand volleyball courts located within walking distance. The North Recreation Center and the RPAC both have a set of courts. Removal of the courts on Woodruff Avenue will not be an imposition to students. Improved planning and design could eliminate these problems by creating a weather-friendly, visually appealing space for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Our proposed changes will also improve the sight line for this stretch of road.

Plan A:

One option for revitalization is expanding the current Curl Market seating area and creating a large green space. Curl Market has some outdoor seating available, but it is not sufficient to accommodate the steady flow of students who frequent the dining location; some of the outdoor seating is not weather friendly which limits its usability (a limited number of tables have attached umbrellas to block out the sun and rain). This project would increase the number of seats available while maintaining continuity. The added seats will match the red chairs on Curl Market’s west patio. The green space perimeter will be walled in on the north and east sides. The use of a wall will improve the ambiance by blocking the unappealing view of the parking lot. The barrier will block the wind from both directions and will allow for a roof to be installed over the seating area. The interior of the walls can be comprised of decorative stone with shelving for plants. The patio area will have an upscale appearance, as well as, a natural casual atmosphere. The greenspace will have a row of grills for dorm residents to utilize and will be landscaped with decorative bushes. Students will be able to use the grassy areas surrounding the patio to lay out picnic blankets, study, play frisbee, or a host of other outdoor activities.

    Getting the funding needed for this patio space could be difficult because of the limited monetary return on investment for expensive equipment such as grills and roofing. The project may find an ally in the university itself as it seeks for a better Curl that is more attractive to students on dining plans or otherwise. The university may also find that the space that is so convenient to north campus dorms could boost demand for higher rate on-campus for students even beyond their sophomore year. With the space open on the walls that partially enclose the space funding could also be raised by selling the rights to what kind of art or greenery could be placed on those walls.

Plan B:

Another option for revitalization is transforming the space into a greenhouse complex. Ohio State has been pushing for a greener campus, and creating a greenhouse is a great way to engage students in environmental activism. There is a greenhouse on campus, but it is buried by the RPAC and medical facility. Using this prime location will put the environment at the center of campus life. The greenhouse can be equipped with solar panels to help power surrounding buildings. The attractive design of the greenhouse makes it a unique campus landmark for generations to come. Students and alumni can purchase plants to grow in the garden, giving an opportunity for a thoughtful graduation, birthday, or wedding gift. In addition to supporting an array of environmental efforts, the greenhouse will also have an event or exhibition space to host speakers, presentations, art, or other educational materials to encourage environmental consciousness. The greenhouse project would turn an underused space on campus into a hub for innovation and create a recognizable building that meets needs that the Union and Thompson Library can’t accommodate. 

Securing funding and implementing the greenhouse project is extremely feasible. The university is likely to support this revitalization plan because it coincides with the national movement that promotes growing fresh foods in neighborhood gardens. Low income residents tend to have less healthy diets due in part to their limited access to fresh foods. Some of the food grown in the greenhouse can be donated to local food banks. The greenhouse revitalization project benefits the environment and the larger campus community. There are a number of avenues to pursue in order to secure funding. The University may provide financial assistance given their past support for agricultural projects such as Com Til. There are an abundance of garden grants available at the private and public level that may be tapped for funds. Lastly, the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences may want to participate in the revitalization project. The College may be willing to donate materials, labor and/or financial support for the project. 

Path –

This photo illustrates the path element. The path is located next to the Wexner Center for the Arts. While it is a piece of art, the path is also used by many students, faculty and visitors to travel behind Weigel Hall toward Annie and John Glenn Avenue. It offers a unique and interesting avenue for travel. It is especially important due to ongoing construction in the area, closing other surrounding paths.

Edge –

This photo of the intersection of Lane Avenue and High Street illustrates the edge concept. We selected this intersection because it marks the northern and eastern boundaries of the Ohio State Campus. The City of Columbus is located on the other side of this intersection. 

District –

The photo of The Ohio State University sign located on High Street illustrates the district concept. The Ohio State campus constitutes a medium section of the city. The University has its own zip code, a college student atmosphere, student friendly businesses and restaurants, its own police department and transportation system. The campus has characteristics that set it apart from the larger Columbus area.

Node –

The photo of the oval illustrates the node concept. Students routinely use the oval to orient themselves to the campus area. The intersecting series of paths take students to classroom buildings, libraries, and provide a relaxing green space for down time. The oval is centered between the Ohio Stadium and High Street.

Landmark –

The photo of Buckeye Donuts illustrates the landmark concept. Open 24 hours each day, Buckeye Donuts is a staple and a popular destination for many students. Established in 1969, Buckeye Donuts is a “Columbus classic.” It is so well known that students can use it is a point of reference for their location on High Street. Furthermore, the distinctive sign provides a visual clue that can be easily described to those unfamiliar with the area.

Frustration –

The photo of High Street construction illustrates the emotion frustration. The large amount of road construction frustrates both pedestrians and drivers. Pedestrians are forced to cross the street to avoid closed areas of sidewalk. Drivers have fewer lanes, a reduced speed limit, and congested traffic. Maneuvering around the cones and barrels poses additional challenges.

Pride –

The photo of the American flag illustrates the emotion pride. The flag is a universal symbol for pride, independence, and democracy in the U.S. The front window of Page Hall showcases a large American flag. The use of large pillars and clear glass represent transparency and openness, with the prominent flag indicating that the college is proud of their work and their country. 

Curiosity –

The photo of the Ohio Union illustrates curiosity. The Ohio Union is one of the most notable buildings on campus. Throughout the year this building hosts club meetings, innovation fairs, and a wide variety of university functions. The large building and its ever changing art exhibits and calendar of events spark curiosity and wonder in students and visitors alike.

Dread – 

The photo of the Barnes and Noble bookstore on High Street evokes dread in students. A trip to the bookstore means the start of a new semester. Even worse it means long lines to purchase expensive books and supplies. The architecture is large and imposing, highlighting the immense amount of knowledge the student must master.

Fear –

The photo of the McDonalds’ parking lot evokes fear in students and local residents. The shooting that took place in the early morning hours on August 18, 2019, shows that violent crimes can happen close to home and involve anyone.

Members:

Mac Lang

Henry Lent

Taylor Wilson