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Despite Federal grant, regional equity planning strategies falter in Baltimore

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Despite Federal grant, regional equity planning strategies falter in Baltimore

NCSG presents an analysis of Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants (SCRPGs) in Baltimore. In an article for the Journal of Urban Affairs, NCSG researchers, led by Associate Director Nick Finio, examine the implementation and success of the grants in Baltimore on 4 aspects of regional equity planning: community engagement, regional collaboration, regional housing policy, and the use of opportunity and equity-related data. The authors find that despite some progress on regional housing issues, plan implementation has largely not occurred due to a lack of commitment to and coordination around implementation. They suggest that without such commitments, large federal grants have only limited success in pushing regional equity planning forward.

 

NCSG researchers are participant activist scholars in the SCRPG planning process in Baltimore, Maryland. NCSG co-authors of this article include Associate Director Nick Finio, Director of Community Development Willow Lung-Amam, Director Gerrit-Jan Knaap, Research Associate Casey Dawkins, and Affiliate Researcher Elijah Knaap.
 
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Nick FinioFeb 04No Comments

Three reasons why NOT to build a dog park in Columbia Heights

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Three reasons why NOT to build a dog park in Columbia Heights

UPDATE: DC Council made their $2.1 million bid for the lot in support of the dog park in early February. The lot is on the open market until the end of the month. According to an article in The Washington Post, DC Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) is not optimistic that the city will win the bid.
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We all love our furry friends, but prioritizing a dog park in Columbia Heights over much-needed housing may be unethical. In an article for Greater Greater Washington Nick Finio, an NCSG Faculty Research Assistant, and Alex Baca, Engagement Director at Coalition for Smarter Growth, look at what we’re missing when we prioritize pets over people. The authors conclude that a luxury good (such as a dog park) is not worth the effect of driving house prices even higher, especially when DC taxpayers would ultimately be paying for the $2.1 million parcel of land.
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Nick FinioJan 25No Comments

Story mapping drives meaningful engagement in disadvantaged communities

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Story mapping drives meaningful engagement in disadvantaged communities

Community developers and planners have long recognized the value of storytelling to engage communities. Yet, in working with disadvantaged communities, they are often challenged to meaningfully engage residents and uncover place values that can help drive community development strategies. In a case study of Langley Park, Maryland, NCSG Director of Community Development Willow Lung-Amam and Chair of the Urban Studies and Planning Program Casey Dawkins investigate how new story mapping techniques and technologies can empower traditionally marginalized voices. Participatory story mapping gives people a tool tell a more complex narrative of a place and create development and planning that respects all stakeholders. The case study was published in the Community Development Journal.

 

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Nick FinioJan 19No Comments