Author: villegas.37

Blog Post 4: Analyzing the Neighborhood Food Environment

by

In the city of Clintonville, many restaurants, shops, and public spaces are available for residents as well as visitors. Along High Street between Cooke Road and Westwood Road, there are many food options making it accessible on foot or other forms of transportation like bus routes or car. Behind the food buildings, there are plenty of parking spaces available and wide sidewalks for foot traffic.

 

Most of the food accessible in this 7 block area are along the busy streets and so that people can have easier access to these restaurants. In some cases, the foods are near the residential homes for easier access but are limited. Outside of this 7 block area there are more food alternatives mostly closer to the corporation stores such as Target and Petco.

 

Unfortunately, within a 7-block radius, there are no accessible grocery stores which provides fresh produce, and healthier options. Most of the food options available are take-out and from their names like Hot Chicken, one can assume the food is not of a healthier option. Residents would consider their neighborhood to be a food desert for the reason of not having a nearby grocery store among the many residential streets and even a high school. The grocery stores for the residents within this 7 block radius is a driving distance away and can be easily accessible for people with a car, not as accessible for people who do not have one. Within a 5 min driving distance, grocery stores are accessible and available for those who have the means to afford the expense of a vehicle.

 

Small shops and restaurants are great for cities and towns to encourage small business to thrive but if there are not as many grocery stores nearby within suburban neighborhoods, there needs to be healthier food options for residents. By encouraging healthier options within a city, more restaurants can be more willing to offer healthier alternatives through the city. Instead of relying on the availability of grocery stores, planners and government officials can encourage businesses to provide healthier food options.

 

The demographics of Clintonville reveal that the distance between stores and residential neighborhoods are not a concern for the residents primarily because ­­­of their income as well as their primary mode of transportation.  The majority of residents living in Clintonville have white collar jobs and have an average income of $81, 918.71. Since the majority of residents earn a higher average income, they can afford to invest in a car to drive the miles to purchase food at farther grocery locations.

Blog Post 3: Concept Map

by

This concept map summarizes how each concept affects a city and how they connect to one another. The 3 concepts we see in the map are Urban Design in the center, Transportation to the far left, and Natural environment on the right. Each play an important role in identifying whether a city is functional or not. As stated in the map, urban design, plays an important role in where buildings are placed, how many buildings can be planned into the city, and how they affect other areas of the city. If industrial buildings are placed near a residential zone, the residents could grow increasingly unhappy due to noise, lights, pollution, or general property value. Cities need to take into account businesses and their economic value to the city but also the quality of life for residents. Transportation is connected to urban design in many ways and the main focus in urban design is the flow of traffic and how to make travel time as efficient as possible. Transportation in the map explains that the over all traffic in a city impacts residents but also business productivity. In planning for reliable public transportation, there is potential for less traffic and less pollution which connects to the concept of the natural environment. The natural environment plays a large role in providing green spaces for residents, resources for the city, and jobs for residents. Maintaining a healthy and sustainable natural environment can help a city flourish and self sufficient.

Identifying these concepts and explaining how they connect is important in city planning. Without understanding these concepts and not taking into account how they connect to each other, planning can be difficult. As explained in the concept map, Natural resources can affect where industry buildings are located, but zoning and regulations as well as inadequate transportation can also affect where these buildings are placed. A lack of resource can also affect how a city plans for their utilities and zoning. This concept map shows how all these concepts connect and how they can impact the other.

The Cities: Skylines simulator effectively captures these interactions almost immediately and provides immediate feedback by showing how these affect the city’s utilities, pollution, and general flow affect the residents. If a road is removed from the city plan, the residents are immediately unhappy and the traffic rout for business or trucks that was previously in place is no longer there. This can cause more congestion in the next street over and unhappy residents. Another way that the city shows immediate feedback from through the simulator is the utility function. If there are not enough electricity electrical lines throughout the city or not a good connection, the residents and businesses suffer and could potentially abandon a building. This simulator is great in providing immediate response to a change in plans, utility lines, construction on new buildings, or new bus routes and helps in educating on how each affect the other.

 

Blog 2: Neighborhood Planning Field Assessment

by

Since moving to Columbus from California and not having many opportunities to walk around campus because of distance learning, it was interesting to see first hand the difference in zoning and areas around campus. Here are my observations:

SIDEWALKS:

Most of the sidewalks around campus can accommodate 2-3 people. If it is an area more central to campus, the sidewalks feel wider because of the on foot traffic. Wider lanes mean more people walking and less crowded spaces. Sidewalks along Woodruff Ave are wide enough to fit pedestrians but also narrow enough to accommodate for street access. Walking along this part of campus felt comfortable and easy because of the posts along the street that offers a barrier.

STREET WIDTH:

The streets closer to campus and more central like on Neil Ave or College Rd are two way streets. The streets more on the edge of campus like on high street or Cannon Dr are wider and are 4 lanes, 2 on each direction. Since the majority of people on campus mostly walk or use a bike, it is not necessary for Neil or College to have more care lanes. Streets like High Street or Cannon Dr. are for businesses or commuting from the highway. They have higher traffic and require more lanes.

STREET SAFETY

In almost all major crossways and intersections around campus there are stoplights and crosswalks. the only exceptions are the construction zones where stoplights and crosswalks are temporarily out of service. There are plenty of traffic signs, stop signs, and even walking zone signs. The area on 12th heading towards Cannon was mostly the back side of the medical building. That area as well as the whole walk on Cannon did not feel pedestrian friendly. As a woman walking alone past parking garages, and supply drop off docks, I normally do not walk in areas with few cars and few pedestrians.Most of Campus feels safe and easily accessible, but the back side of buildings and parking garages are not pedestrian friendly.

TRAFFIC FLOW:

I don’t know if visiting campus on a Sunday would give me an accurate depiction of campus traffic and life but I observed that the busiest areas were along High Street and Woodruff Ave. The streets and parking were fairly empty and there weren’t a lot of people walking around campus but I did notice that around lunch time, High street and areas on Woodruff and College Rd near Ohio Union were busier with people carrying lunch bags.

SETBACKS:

The setbacks between the buildings to each other and the buildings to the streets seemed appropriate. Dorm and food buildings were closer to the street than libraries or study halls. That could be that libraries require less noise pollution for the people inside vs the dorms and food places need to be closer to sidewalks for transportation. the Dorms tend to be closer together than study buildings and the food places tend to be closer to the dorms than the study.

 

BUILDING USE:

Most of the buildings along Woodruff Ave are spaces for students like dorms and food. A lot of the buildings throughout campus did not seem like they were either open or being used compared to weekdays. There were a few libraries along the route that seemed like there was a steady flow of people going in and out. Some buildings felt a little out of place. As shown in the second picture above, the little sitting area doesn’t seem to fit with the surround brick buildings or the building it is connected to. It seems a little like an after thought.

PARKING:

Parking did not appear to be available as much as I had thought. Parking structures were on the edges of campus and parking spaces near buildings were limited to staff of a specific kind of parking pass. I had driven to campus and parked at the Tuttle parking garage for 2 hours of parking paid a little over $7. While walking around campus, There were a few parking garages and very few parking spaces closer to the building.

ACCESSIBILITY:

Campus and campus buildings are very accessible when it comes to walking or bike riding. If you wanted to go from one corner of campus to the other, you can rent a bike and you’re able to use it to get around. Since there are limited parking garages and parking spaces public transportation is a great way to get around. CABS stops are all around campus which makes it convenient to get around.

GREEN SPACE:

There are plenty of green spaces around campus and spaces to sit outside. The Oval is a perfect example of an accessible wide green space that people can take advantage of as a way to cut through to their next class or to sit and enjoy the day. The effects of having this green space is that people can be more active in this environment. I saw many people excercising, running, sitting on benches and walking around. If this campus did not have a space like the Oval, it would not have a space that could allow for many people to enjoy the outdoor space.

SUMMARY: To summarize, I really enjoyed being able to walk around campus and look at all the buildings and spaces. Most of the interesting places were near green spaces. The first is the Oval. I had learned that the pathways were paved based off of students routes and not planned. I think its interesting that the routes are all in different directions and not symmetrical. The second most interesting place to me was the walk down Woodruff Ave approaching college road. The area is lined by dorms and buildings for students. I really got the feel that I was on a college campus. My third favorite place was Mirror Lake. I thought a place that allows people to have a nice few while studying in the library or reading outside is a great place to take a break and enjoy the outdoors. It is positioned in a great spot that feels private but still accessible to the public. My fourth favorite place was the stadium, it was a great place to tie up the walk and a great location for school spirit. My last favorite place was along High Street. The contrast between a quiet college campus to a busy and bustling street made the campus feel connected to the activity that goes on outside of campus. Coming from California, most colleges in Southern California are commuter schools. Its nice to be able to walk in a campus that is accessible to people and provides what students need within walking distance.

 

.   

 

Cities and Skylines

by
  1. INTRODUCTION:
    • The name of my city is King Village for no scholastic reason other than King being the first street I’ve lived on since I’ve moved to Ohio and Village being a mispronunciation of my last name, Villegas.
  2. BACKGROUND:
    • I had such a hard time establishing a city and many times did I start over because I couldn’t figure out how to move past a certain point. My city started out a mess with random streets going out in different directions. The commercial and residential zones were located in various locations and did not have organization. Now, my city has more of a grid like pattern with a center roundabout that allows for fluid transportation and makes good use of space. I believe that my city is special because it shows the importance of the residential living but also the industrial buildings. Industrial buildings are never seen as attractive so i made sure that it had its own district and branch in the city. It creates a separation from work and home which helps in reducing noise pollution.

 

3. POPULATION

  • Since I needed to restart my city due to losing money and feeling stuck, my population has taken a long time to taken flight and increase. Currently my population is at 1520: 172 Children, 239 Teens, 286 Young Adults, 624 Adults, and 199 Seniors. There are 864/920 workers, 402/ 406 households, and are 3 weekly tourist visits. Every time I had to restart my city and I was bankrupt beyond repair, I was at a 130 population, just below the first achievement. Now, my city has grown and it will continue to grow with the knowledge I have gained in each city milestone.

 

4. BUILT ENVIRONMENT:

  • My goal is to grow my city and bring it closer to the water for easier access to that resource. I want my population to be happy with the opportunities for work and have easy access to living areas.
  • One of my strengths in the design and build part of the simulation is that I have been able to make my population happy. I respond quickly to their needs by providing more housing, sufficient industrial space, and clean energy sources. a weakness of the built environment is that natural resources are not as accessible. I have to constantly make sure pipes are good, and the power reaches my population. An opportunity of mine is making the streets and exit to the highway more accessible and clearly defined. My freeway exit is strangely built and the vehicles are not utilizing it the way I would’ve liked for them to. My biggest threat to making my city the best it can be is the power and water access. I have, in so many instances, been without power and water because of too much use and not enough resource.
  •  I have a big issue off wanting my city to be at its max capacity in terms of residents, businesses, and utilities. I want to see my city grow now not slowly.  If my power is out, my water and sewage is out. I’ve learned that keeping track of those two utilities helps in keeping the budget under control and slowly being able to expand. Once I have earned enough money and have the resources to expand my city, I will.

 

 

5. HOUSING:

  • My goal is to be able to provide as much housing away from the industrial quarter as much as possible. I want my residents to be able to work nearby where they live but not have to be exposed to pollution and noise from the industrial buildings. I also want my residents to be able to walk to some shops near where they live and not have to rely heavily on a vehicle for transportation.
  • One strength in the housing in my city is that the housing is separated form the industrial and there is plenty of residential areas for people to live in. Its not concentrated in one section of the city but all throughout. A weakness is that the more my city grows, the more I need to build. Its difficult to maintain utilities, make the residents happy and create more housing, all within staying in budget. An opportunity for my city in regards to housing is to take advantage of the current layout I have. Instead of trying to push and building as fast as I can, I should make use with what i have and not blow my budget. One threat would be that I could build more residential areas and not enough commercial or industrial area to support the people living in the city. This would cause my city to go into debt and force people to move away.
  • By not over building too many residential houses, I can create a balance between the different zones.

 

6. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

  • My goal is to build a thriving commercial district so that it can benefit my city and make more money than it takes to maintain it.
  • The strength in the current economic development in my city is that there are areas that are primarily meant for shopping but there are also scattered commercial buildings throughout. My population does not rely solely on the industrial district and residents can work throughout the city instead of a few designated spaces. A weakness of the economic development is that I’m stuck at a point where it costs more money to maintain my city than it earns. An opportunity would be to figure out a way to make money and invest in the commercial buildings while not going into debt and losing money. A threat of investing too much in the commercial buildings are that the residents could lose districts that were meant for residential buildings.
  • Finding a happy balance between commercial, residential, and industrial will help in not over investing and creating traffic and congestion in a given space.

7. TRANSPORTATION:

  • My goal is to include public transportation in my city. I have not been able to include busses or routes for public transportation but that is my goal.
  • One strength in my city is the accessibility for vehicle transportation. You can go from one part of the city to the other with no difficulties. The weakness is that i do not have public transportation. My city is designed for people with cars. Those we do not have access to a car are limited to working near where they live. An opportunity would be to make my city more accessible and encourage to use public transportation or even bike routes. One threat to the current status of the transportation in my city  is that traffic can become a big issue. with the number of residential units in my city, parking and traffic can quickly become a major concern
  • I will invest in making my city less congested by adding a bus line or somehow add a bike route.

8. COMMUNITY SERVICES AND UTILITIES:

  • My goal is to be able to provide utilities services without outages or shutdowns.
  • One strength in utilities that I have in my city are that water and sewer are available without any issues. My weakness in being able to provide for utilities is the issues I have with the electricity. In an effort to build more commercial, residential, and industrial buildings, I lose sight of the amount of energy used and as a result, my city suffers. An opportunity would be to invest in coal as an option for an energy source. A threat of investing in coal is that it is expensive and the environmental issues it causes can negatively impact the population and force them to move away or make them sick.
  • By placing the coal processing plant downstream and downwind can move the pollution away from the city .

 

9. PARKS AND RECREATION:

  • I want my city to have as much green space as possible to give a break from constant buildings and commercial space. I want to provide an outdoor setting for people to enjoy nice days or even when needed a break from the indoors. As someone who has been working from home, schooling from home, and taking care of dogs, I enjoy the chance to go to a nice green space so I wanted to keep that in mind and be able to include that in my city.
  • One strength of the current parks I have are that they provide outdoor space for people and dogs. Not ever resident has the luxury of a back yard so I wanted to make sure that there was a space that people can go to for exercise, for their dogs, and children. One weakness of the current parks and recreation space is that it is mainly located on the back of my city and not all throughout. If someone wants to go to the park and they live far away from the park, they would need to drive. An opportunity would be to build more parks. Parks can be a great use of land. One threat of these parks is that my residents could ask for more use of it like more shopping rather than a park.
  • Making good use of land and making sure that people have the opportunity to take advantage of the outdoor space will make my residents happy. Instead of using land for industrial space, I can use if for green space.

10. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT:

  • I want to purchase more land for my city that contains natural resources so that I don’t have to worry as much about what I can provide to my residents.
  • One strength of the natural environment I have are that I am able to provide to my population what they need. One weakness is that there is only so much so long that I can give my residence what they need. To prevent a diminishing supply, I need to search and invest in more resources and space. An opportunity to take advantage of the natural environment is to purchase more land that will benefit more residents. One threat is that by looking for more resources, I will have to build more industrial buildings to process the resources. If my land has coal, it has to be processed for energy. Coal can produce more pollution and negatively impact my population.
  • One action that i can take to take advantage of the natural environment is to use the resource in an efficient way. Instead of using it to the max potential, process it and store it in case it needs to be used.

11. FUTURE LAND USE PLAN:

  • My plans for future land use is to create more education buildings like a high school and college so that my population could be more educated. I also would like to expand my city and create more public spaces like parks so that my residents can enjoy the outdoors.
  • A strength in investing in education for the future land use is so that I could be able to build office spaces instead of industrial spaces to create too much pollution. The weakness in investing in more educational spaces are that there wont be immediate advantages. It will take time to see more residents educated. An opportunity in the future land use is that it has new natural resources that can benefit the residents. One threat in investing in education would be to put a hold on investing on the natural resources that the new land provides.
  • I can invest in the the natural resources that the land provides so that the money it provides can help pay for the new educational buildings.

12. IMPLEMENTATION:

  • I will achieve all of these actions by making sure that I invest carefully and not break the bank. By keeping my budget in mind, i can slowly expand my city creating more areas of residential living, accessible commercial buildings, and carefully placed industrial buildings. Making sure that I work on finding happy mediums will help in designing a successful city.

SIMULATION VERSUS REALITY:

This simulation exercise really helps on making people aware of how each decision in planning can affect the future. If you plan on building an industrial space near a residential zone, what are the ramifications and how does it affect the residents. It has really help me be more aware of the city I live in and what goes into making it functional. I think what Professor Burton said about balancing what the people want and what the planner thinks is best for the city was so important to this simulation and obviously true to the reality in planning. Another thing that professor Burton stated was that there are factors that can negatively impact the development of a city and can derail the progression of its developments. As stated in the Contemporary Urban Planning by John Levy, Sanitation, poverty and employment are all factors that can change the direction of city planning, all of which were really displayed in the simulation. If the population does not have a place to work, they are unhappy and will look for another place to live. If their water is shut off, or their sewer pipes are not functioning, the city will not strive. I believe that the simulation has really opened my eyes on how close to reality its problems and developments are.

About Me!

by

My name is Victoria Villegas and I’m from sunny Southern California. I was born and raised in Orange County and am excited to start my new journey as a Buckeye here in Columbus. I am a transfer student from a community college in California where I studied Architecture and design. My major is City and Regional Planning and I’m really excited to learn more about City Planning. I chose to take this class because I think it is very important to understand that makes an innovative city.

My favorite city that I’ve been to is Prague, Czech Republic. I enjoyed being able to walk very important landmarks like the Prague Castle, Old Town Square, and Charles Bridge. While walking the city, I was able to see all sorts of interesting statues and buildings. I really enjoy cities that are walkable and accessible without driving too far. I love to travel am always looking to see places that have lots of history.