To all of my readers in 2006...

'Youngstown 2010' City Vision and Plan Honored with National Planning Award for Public Outreach

Congratulations to Youngstown!

December 19, 2006

'Youngstown 2010' City Vision and Plan Honored with National Planning Award for Public Outreach

WASHINGTON, DC – At a public meeting in 2002, Jay Williams, who was then the director of Youngstown, Ohio's Community Development Department, called on more than 1,200 residents to embrace and own the city's new vision for the future: Youngstown 2010. It could very well be the city's last chance, he said, to begin reversing decades of population losses, economic declines, and increases in crime. The message was heard. Three years later, Williams had become mayor of Youngstown and residents had gone from supporting the Youngstown 2010 vision and developing the Youngstown 2010 comprehensive plan to embarking upon a city- and region-wide action and implementation plan.

Building public support for the Youngstown 2010 vision and comprehensive plan involved a far-reaching marketing and public education campaign. For this effort, Youngstown has been named recipient of the American Planning Association (APA) 2007 National Planning Excellence Award for Public Outreach.

"Youngstown has shown how to use the planning process to galvanize citizens to heed a call to action and take concrete steps towards saving their future," said Carol Rhea, AICP, chair of the APA Awards Committee. "From radio, newspaper and television coverage, to billboards, t-shirts and balloons, city officials left no stone unturned in their public outreach campaign," Rhea said.

The city's public outreach efforts involving Youngstown 2010 will be recognized at APA's National Planning Conference during a luncheon ceremony on April 17, 2007, in Philadelphia. A 30-minute video about all of APA's 2007 National Planning Excellence, Achievement, and Leadership Awards recipients will be shown at the luncheon. Also, the accomplishments of Youngstown and the 13 other 2007 awardees will be highlighted in the April 2007 issue of Planning magazine and on the APA website, www.planning.org.

"For a successful planning process it's essential to maintain a marketing strategy with an educational component," said Anthony Kobak, chief planner with Youngstown's Planning Department and Project Manager for Youngstown 2010.

The city's outreach efforts, in partnership with Youngstown State University, have been highly effective, attracting more than 5,000 people to participate in the city visioning and planning process since 2002. For example, 1,400 people attended the Youngstown 2010 kick-off vision meeting in 2002, and 1,300 people attended the Youngstown 2010 plan meeting in 2005.

To maintain momentum for its public outreach efforts, the city is calling on residents to get involved with implementing the plan at the same time it is launching a national advertising campaign to encourage new residents and businesses to move to Youngstown. Additional information is available online at www.youngstown2010.com.

For a list of all of the APA 2007 National Planning Excellence, Achievement, and Leadership Award recipients, visit www.planning.org/newsreleases/2006/ftp121506.htm. APA's National Planning Awards, considered by U.S. planners to be the profession's highest honor, is a tradition established more than 50 years ago to recognize outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning issues.

Contacts
Anthony Kobak, Chief Planner, City of Youngstown, and Youngstown 2010 Project Manager, 330-742-8842; akobak@cityofyoungstownoh.com
Denny Johnson, APA Public Affairs, 202-349-1006; djohnson@planning.org

And also to Kevin Chastine from Ohio State University:

Kevin Chastine (graduate student)
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Kevin Chastine has shown exceptional enthusiasm for the field of planning, not only in the classroom, but through an internship, doing community service, and serving as president of the City and Regional Planning Student Association at Ohio State University. His strong work ethic led him to receive the two university planning program awards — the First Year Student Faculty Prize and the Outstanding First Year Graduate Student Award.

Typically students wait until the second year of the graduate program to begin taking studio courses, but Kevin has already participated in two studios, including work on rebuilding Mississippi gulf coast communities. He also has written articles for a university magazine, participated in a Planner's Day in School program involving sixth grade students, and raised funds to attend APA's National Planning Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in April 2006.

Here is a overview of all of the winners directly from the American Planning Association's press release:

December 15, 2006

Winners of APA's 2007 National Planning Excellence, Achievement, and Leadership Awards

The American Planning Association is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2007 National Planning Excellence, Achievement and Leadership Awards, which recognize the roles cutting-edge planning achievements and outstanding individual contributions play in helping create communities of lasting value.

Award recipients will be honored at a special awards luncheon April 17 during the APA 2007 National Planning Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also to be recognized at ceremonies in Philadelphia will be the recipient of the Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award, which is presented each year by APA in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Announcement of that award is expected in January.

Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan (co-awardees)

Ontario Growth Secretariat's Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
This plan provides for an innovative and coordinated approach to sustainable growth and development for the greater Toronto, Ontario, metropolitan region encompassing 110 different municipalities. The backbone of the plan is how it integrates land-use planning for the greater Toronto region with $7.5 billion (U.S.) in new infrastructure investment. Provisions of the groundbreaking plan include establishing minimum density levels for development wherever it takes place; keeping a 1.8 million-acre greenbelt in the heart of the area off limits to development; and coordinating land-use and transportation decisions.

Click here for more details

PlanCheyenne
Cheyenne, Wyoming
This innovative comprehensive master plan for the Cheyenne, Wyoming, urban area integrates three distinct planning disciplines into one process — transportation planning; parks and recreation planning; and scenario-based land-use planning, urban character and urban design. Extensive use of interactive technology and the internet, along with cutting edge public participation strategies, were used to develop the plan. The plan also contains case studies from other communities and tools, ranging from incentive-based options to ordinances, to help implement the plan.

Click here for more details

National Planning Excellence Awards for Best Practices (co-awardees)

The New Jersey Smart Growth Locator
Trenton, New Jersey
The Smart Growth Locator was created in 2003 as a free, on-line, consumer-driven, and user-friendly tool to help developers and consumers easily determine areas that are identified for growth according to the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan. By typing in an address, a user of the locator can find out whether a property or site is within a Smart Growth Area; the State Plan planning area and census tract where the address is located; and what New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency growth incentive programs would apply to that address or site.

At the same time, utility companies in the state also use the Smart Growth Locator to assess their utility financing. Over time, other state agencies are expected to use the Smart Growth Locator, enabling it to become a one-stop-shop for smart growth incentives. In this manner, New Jersey can address development in a consistent and comprehensive manner.

Protecting Florida's Springs: Land Use Planning Strategies and Best Management Practices Tallahassee, Florida
To help protect Florida's unique landscape of more than 600 freshwater springs, which has supplied potable drinking water to millions of residents, 1000 Friends of Florida has written and published the hands-on protection guide, Protecting Florida's Springs: Land Use Planning Strategies and Best Management Practice. The reference is both comprehensive and user-friendly, and is designed to encourage officials and citizens to work together to protect the state's natural springs at the same time allowing appropriate development to continue. To date five local jurisdictions where approximately one-third of the state's springs are located have taken strategies discussed in the manual and incorporated them into each community's respective comprehensive plan.

Click here for more details

National Planning Excellence Award for a Grassroots Initiative

Corridor Housing Initiative
Minneapolis, Minnesota
To help neighborhoods accept affordable, higher density housing, a proactive planning and education process is being used by the nonprofit Center for Neighborhoods in partnership with the City of Minneapolis. The Corridor Housing Initiative calls on citizens to be partners in the development process through an educational process facilitated by a neutral team of experts.

Educational components of the initiative include an interactive block exercise that allows community members to consider different housing options and test whether they are financially viable. This process helps participants recognize why greater densities are oftentimes needed to make a project feasible. The eventual goal is to create market-based development objectives and guidelines that are endorsed by community partners because they are compatible with city goals as well as neighborhood interests.

Click here for more details

National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation

Chattanooga Bicycle Planning
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Through partnerships and cooperation between public agencies and private organizations, advocates for using bicycles instead of cars to commute to work and run short errands in Chattanooga and neighboring Hamilton County have made steady progress. Since 2000, a $50,000 Chattanooga Bicycle Facilities Master Plan has been completed and adopted by 10 neighboring communities.

The plan provides a 20-year blueprint for $24 million in bicycle lane and route improvements in the region. Already $300,000 in federal Surface Transportation Program funds have been secured to create 28 miles of dedicated bike lanes and share-the-road bike routes, install bike racks on public buses and throughout downtown Chattanooga, and publish bicycling brochures and bikeway maps. There' also been a steady increase in the number of people riding bikes to work, to community events, and for recreation purposes.

Click here for more details

National Planning Excellence Award for Public Outreach

Youngstown 2010
Youngstown, Ohio
Officials in Youngstown, Ohio, embarked upon a far-reaching marketing and public education campaign to build public support for the city's Youngstown 2010 vision and comprehensive plan. Everything from radio, newspaper and television coverage, to billboards, t-shirts, and balloons were used to get the message out and galvanize citizens to support and participate in development and implementation of the plan. Since 2002, for example, more than 5,000 people participated in the city visioning and planning process. To maintain momentum, a national advertising campaign is underway to attract new residents and businesses to Youngstown.

Click here for more details

National Planning Excellence Award for Innovations in Neighborhood Planning in Honor of Jane Jacobs

Revitalization of Hannibal Square
Winter Park, Florida
Revitalization does not have to lead to gentrification as the redevelopment of Hannibal Square, a historic black neighborhood in Winter Park dating back to the 19th century, proves. The city, in partnership with its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), established a housing rehabilitation program to preserve existing, viable affordable housing in the neighborhood.

Other steps involve creation of the Hannibal Square Community Land Trust, which holds land in a 99-year ground lease. This allows residents to purchase quality homes at below-market rates compared with having to also purchase the land. The Railroad Residences, the first of their kind in the Southeast, are the most innovative component of the square. This portion of the revitalization effort involved replacing a dilapidated water treatment plant with a new, state-of-the-art plant and constructing affordable housing and other buildings that blend architecturally with the surrounding, upscale communities.

Click here for more details

National Planning Achievement Award for Hard-Won Victories

Octavia Boulevard and the Central Freeway Replacement Project
San Francisco, California
Spanning 16 years and requiring three local referenda, Octavia Boulevard opened September 9, 2005. The new boulevard had once been part of the Central Freeway, a double-decker structure that blighted San Francisco neighborhoods, particularly Hayes Valley, for more than 40 years. In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the Hayes Valley portion of the freeway irreparably, causing planners, elected officials, and community leaders to craft a new alternative — the Octavia Boulevard and Central Freeway Replacement Project.

Among the project's many collaborators and partners were the California Department of Transportation, several San Francisco City departments, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, and the Central Freeway Citizens Advisory Committee. In spite of ballot measures alternating between support and opposition for the project, financial obstacles, and jurisdictional battles, each challenge was addressed and eventually resolved. The result is a boulevard that is the first of its kind to be built in the U.S. in 80 years. It provides regional and neighborhood access, four center lanes for through traffic, two local lanes and a parking lane, landscaped medians, and a community park at the heart of a revitalized Hayes Valley neighborhood.

Click here for more details

National Planning Landmark Award

Sanibel Plan
Sanibel, Florida
In 1976 the City of Sanibel adopted a land-use plan that has enabled the community to manage growth and development so as to not exceed the natural carrying capacity of Sanibel Island. Nine ecological zones on the island were identified and established to help planners designated appropriate land uses, intensity, and performance standards within each of the zones. The plan also led to one of Florida's pioneer growth management regulations, which allowed the city to control population growth so the island's infrastructure was not overburden and residents could be safely evacuated for hurricanes using a two-lane causeway. The growth restriction kept new housing construction on Sanibel to 9,000 units instead of 30,000 units as proposed by Lee County.

Click here for more details

National Planning Leadership Award for a Planning Advocate

The Honorable Mayor Kay Barnes
Kansas City, Missouri
When Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes took office in April 1999, support for downtown was at a record low. Plans for an entertainment district had been scrapped and long-time tenants were leaving downtown for the suburbs. That didn't stop the new mayor from putting forth a vision for a new Kansas City.

Through strategic partnerships and public consensus, Kansas City is becoming what the Mayor envisioned when first taking office, a city with "strong neighborhoods, a revitalized downtown, and a healthy economy." Approximately $4.5 billion has been invested in the revitalization of downtown to date, including development of a $275 million Sprint Center Downtown Arena and an $850 million "Power & Light" entertainment district that includes retail, multi-family housing, and community gathering spaces.

Other changes under Mayor Barnes's leadership include expanded Rapid Bus Transit service, increased tax spending for public infrastructure, an increase in the number of people living downtown, and significant progress towards building or rehabilitating nearly 20,000 houses, including affordable units and rental housing for at-risk populations.

Click here for more details

National Planning Leadership Awards for Student Planners (co-awardees)

Michael Marcus (undergraduate student)
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, California
Michael Marcus has been interested in urban planning long before entering undergraduate planning studies at Cal Poly. At age 15, he served as a full-voting, at-large Parks and Recreation Commissioner in his hometown of Benicia, California, providing leadership to the community's first annual Youth Rights Workshop. Later, as a high school freshmen, he became student coordinator for a group of concerned citizens who joined together to save Benicia's historic arsenal district.

His enthusiasm for planning has become even stronger since then, both in and out of the classroom. Marcus's high academic marks have placed him among the top 15 percent of students at Cal Poly. He completed a planning-related internship with RBF Consulting during the summer of 2006, and participated with other students to develop the Templeton Downtown Plan, which received a 2006 California Chapter APA Planning Award. And his concerns about sustainability led him to spearhead formation of the Empower Poly Sustainability Coalition on campus.

Kevin Chastine (graduate student)
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Kevin Chastine has shown exceptional enthusiasm for the field of planning, not only in the classroom, but through an internship, doing community service, and serving as president of the City and Regional Planning Student Association at Ohio State University. His strong work ethic led him to receive the two university planning program awards — the First Year Student Faculty Prize and the Outstanding First Year Graduate Student Award.

Typically students wait until the second year of the graduate program to begin taking studio courses, but Kevin has already participated in two studios, including work on rebuilding Mississippi gulf coast communities. He also has written articles for a university magazine, participated in a Planner's Day in School program involving sixth grade students, and raised funds to attend APA's National Planning Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in April 2006.

Contacts
Denny Johnson, APA Public Affairs, 202-349-1006; djohnson@planning.org
Roberta Rewers, APA Public Affairs, 312-786-6395; rrewers@planning.org

Krumholz Appointed to Cleveland Planning Commission

This is what happens when big stories are announced during the last weeks of a school semester. I can't believe I missed this one. Norm Krumholz has taught me many things and has been a good mentor and friend. Krumholz is a self proclaimed "bleeding-heart liberal," and there have been many times I sat in class arguing against his opinions of "Equity Planning" as being not equitable at all - but thats a different story and I was really only opposing him for opposition's sake.

I send him a heartfelt congratulations and wish him the best. The Cleveland Planning Commission and the City itself is in a much better position because of this appointment.

One thing that is interesting: this will be the first time there has not been a religious leader on the Planning Commission. I am not sure when or why this tradition started - I'm sure there was a good reason at the time.

In my opinion, this is possibly the best move Mayor Jackson has made as far as personnel changes within the city.

Good Luck, Norm.


From the Maxine Goodman-Levin College of Urban Affairs:

Norman Krumholz is a Professor in the Levin College of Urban Affairs who earned his planning degree at Cornell. Prior to this, he served as a planning practitioner in Ithaca, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. He served as Planning Director of the City of Cleveland from 1969-1979 under Mayors Carl B. Stokes, Ralph J. Perk, and Dennis Kucinich.
Professor Krumholz has published in many professional journals, including the Journal of the American Planning Association, the Journal of Planning Education and Research, and the Journal of Urban Affairs. In addition, he has written chapters for many books. His book(with John Forester) Making Equity Planning Work won the Paul Davidoff book of the year award of the Associated Collegiate Schools of Planning.
His most recent book, Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods (with Dennis Keating), was published by Sage in 1999. His research has been supported by the Cleveland Foundation, the George Gund Foundation, and the Ford Foundation.
He served as the President of the American Planning Association (1986-1987), received the APA Award for Distinguished Leadership in 1990, and in 1999 was serving as the President of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He was awarded the Prize of Rome in 1987 by the American Academy in Rome. Professor Norm Krumholz was recently appointed an AICP fellow, and his Cleveland Policy Plan declared a "Planning Landmark".

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

CSU prof on plan commission

A prominent figure in Cleveland's past development will have a say in its future. Mayor Frank Jackson has appointed Norman Krumholz, 79, to the city's seven-member planning commission. Krumholz was the city's planning director from 1969 to 1979 and is a professor of urban affairs at Cleveland State University. He replaces the Rev. Sam Small, who is finishing a six-year term. The planning commission meets twice a month to act on development and land-use proposals.

2006

More Grant News for Cleveland Organizations

Last week, the Gund Foundation approved grants for various organizations in the city (See article below). What is not known is is whether the grants Downtown Cleveland Alliance was seeking have been considered. As a member of their task force, this is of interest to me. More to follow soon.

Meanwhile, Neighborhood Connection funded 82 projects this past fall. You can read about them here.

Speaking of grants, time is running out if you are interested in a small grant for your neighborhood project. Neighborhood Connections' next round deadline for their grant proposals is February 16 and Cleveland Colectivo's deadline is January 15.

Foundation Awards $7.9 Million in December

CLEVELAND OH - The George Gund Foundation re-affirmed its commitment to revitalizing Cleveland’s neighborhoods with a three-year $3.6 million grant to Neighborhood Progress, Inc. and a $300,000 grant to Shorebank Enterprise Group Cleveland.

NPI, which is the principal intermediary between funders and community development corporations in Cleveland, has played a key role in the development of new housing and the revitalization of neighborhood commercial districts, resulting in a rise in residential property values and slowing of the city’s population decline.

Shorebank and its related subsidiaries, which have provided financing for a number of housing projects and business start-ups in Cleveland, also operate a business incubator and a program to link businesses with the neighborhood workforce.

The grants were among 86 totaling $7,863,026 that were made by Gund Trustees at the Foundation’s fourth quarterly meeting of 2006. Grantmaking for the year totaled $27,551,038.
Trustees also approved a five-year $1,000,000 grant to the Cleveland Zoological Society to incorporate green building standards into design and construction of the new African Elephant Crossing exhibit facility.

Other grants of interest include:
• $125,000 for the 2007 Ingenuity Festival which will take place in Playhouse Square.
• $300,000 over two years to the Washington D.C. based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for analysis on federal fiscal policy.
• $75,000 in continued support to the University of Cincinnati for the Teacher Quality Partnership project, a longitudinal study of teacher preparation, in-school support and effectiveness in Ohio.
• $50,000 to the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization to staff the fundraising effort for the Gordon Square Arts District.
• $25,000 to the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation for the Resource Mothers and Doulas of Cleveland project.
• $40,000 to Ideastream for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Buckeye High School Robotics Competition.
• $31,320 to the Ohio Citizen Action Fund to purchase air toxic monitoring equipment for use by citizen groups throughout Ohio.

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made quarterly in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $483 million.

For Further Information Contact:
Deena M. Epstein (216)241.3114

Cleveland Foundation announces $17.9 million in grants

Classes are done, and I think I am almost fully recovered. While I play catch up on some of my Planning Commission reports (which still may take a week or so) I will post other newsworthy information that has not been reported (or I missed it) anywhere else.

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Cleveland Foundation announces $17.9 million in grants

Arts, education, economic development among areas to benefit from awards

CLEVELAND, December 18, 2006 – The board of directors of The Cleveland Foundation today authorized $17.9 million in grants at its quarterly meeting, addressing some of Greater Cleveland's most pressing needs. Programs and initiatives receiving funding this quarter included:

Arts and Culture
The board authorized a $2 million grant to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to support the building of a permanent library and archive. As part of its educational mission, the museum aims to become the premier international source for research on the discipline of rock and roll music. The Foundation believes that a library and archive are essential for the Rock Hall to achieve that goal.

Economic Development
The board authorized a grant of $1 million toward construction of a new building to house the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Cleveland. The new structure would serve as the signature building for the proposed University Arts and Retail District at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road, which the Foundation has supported as part of its Greater University Circle Initiative. The district will include retail stores, condominiums and apartments, and is expected to stimulate investment and development in surrounding areas, while also serving students, faculty and staff of nearby Case Western Reserve University.

The Presidents' Council Foundation was also a recipient of a Cleveland Foundation grant in the amount of $82,500. The grant continues Foundation support of the Emerging Entrepreneurs program for African-American entrepreneurs in Greater Cleveland. The program offers monthly educational programs in such areas as leadership, marketing, finance and organization, as well as business networking events and in-depth discussions with local CEOs.

Education
The Literacy Cooperative of Greater Cleveland received $250,000 for ongoing operating support. The Cooperative is working to develop a literacy outreach system for Greater Cleveland, coordinating the region's many disparate literacy services and training providers.

The board voted to continue its support of the First Ring Leadership Academy with a $150,000 grant. The program provides leadership development training to teachers, supervisors, principals and assistant principals from 13 inner-ring suburban school districts around Cleveland.

The Foundation's support for education also extended to the Institute for Student Achievement (ISA), which received a grant of $113,256. The ISA, in collaboration with Columbia University's National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools and Teaching, is charged with identifying Cleveland schools that are enjoying measurable success in educating students at risk for academic failure. The project will pinpoint, describe and share best practices from these schools, which might include public, private, charter or parochial institutions.

Neighborhoods
The board supported the ShoreBank Enterprise Group (SEC) Cleveland with a $525,000 grant for the group's "Investing in Cleveland's East Side Neighborhoods" initiative. SEC helps Cleveland neighborhoods thrive through an investment fund, and a business incubator based in Glenville. In addition, an employee recruitment and support services program links neighborhood residents with new job opportunities generated by ShoreBank-supported businesses.

Early Childhood and Youth Development
The Child Care Resource Center of Cuyahoga County (also known as "Starting Point") has developed a reputation as one of Ohio's most effective child resource and referral agencies, prompting the board to award a $216,333 grant to fund its core services. The center links families to programs and services that meet their early childcare and educational needs while strengthening the community's ability to respond to them.

Nonprofit Community
Having recognized the need for greater business acumen and leadership training among faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs), The Cleveland Foundation earlier this year launched Project Access. The program is designed to bolster FBCOs in Cleveland and East Cleveland in management, advocacy and organizational effectiveness. Project Access, which recently "graduated" its first class of 45 organizations, received a grant of $545,000 to support its second year of operations. A portion of those funds will be directed to participating organizations for the purchase of equipment or services that expand their business and leadership capacity.

The board also authorized a $200,000 grant to the Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Program, which gives college students and recent college graduates the opportunity to work in Cleveland-area nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for an 11-week period. Interns learn about local nonprofits and public agencies and the important roles they play within the community.

Contact: Scott Tennant 216-615-7153