Tag: UNC Chapel Hill

UNC’s Community Workshop Series (CWS)

August 9, 2022 / odrozd

By Rachael Brittain

Managing our day to day lives is becoming increasingly difficult without the use of modern technology. However, approximately 32 million people in the United States do not have the skills to confidently navigate and utilize computers [1]. Computer skills are increasingly fundamental in K-12 schools, with much of a child’s educational experience built around technology and internet use. Adults who did not have the benefit of learning these skills while they were young are experiencing an increasing digital divide between themselves and the younger generation. That said, this issue is not limited to one demographic. As technology continues to evolve everyone requires continual education and assistance to remain digitally literate. The Community Workshop Series (CWS) works to close the digital divide and provide assistance to those in our community who are learning computer fundamentals for the first time and those looking to expand their current knowledge.

Learning to use technology and building essential skills can be difficult without the proper resources. Investing in digital literacy benefits not only the individual but the community. Being able to access computers and the internet increases a community’s civic engagement and people use technology to search for information about their local government; public transportation options; information about voting and upcoming elections; new economic opportunities; and most companies require an online application from prospective employees. The internet reduces the amount of time spent searching for a job and makes it easier to see what positions are available. A basic level of computer literacy is a common job expectation, and an online presence increases visibility for small businesses. Healthcare providers are increasing their use of online forms for patients and online portals are used to create appointments and connect doctors with their patients [2]. Local and global news resources are widely available online, making finding and evaluating this information more critical than ever. These resources and opportunities are cut off for those lacking computer skills.

The Community Workshop Series works with local libraries to host classes to increase digital literacy in the community. University students volunteer to teach classes that provide basic tech skills and computer fundamentals; internet searching, how to use programs, online job searching, evaluating online sources, email basics, smartphones, Google applications, and more based on community needs. Through direct interaction with the community, CWS continuously adjust classes to ensure they are valuable to participants and responsive to their needs. Recently, CWS has been able to begin offering computer basics courses in Spanish to better serve the surrounding community in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham. CWS serves the community through digital literacy and improving information access and provides local university students with an opportunity for service learning. Students teach classes, help develop and update curriculum, and work directly with communities to help close the digital divide.

To learn more about the Community Workshop Series or volunteer opportunities, please visit our website https://cws.web.unc.edu/ or contact us directly at silscommunityworkshopseries@gmail.com or rbritta@ad.unc.edu.

Citations

[1] Kendall Latham, “Empower Communities to Strengthen Their Digital Literacy Skills,” Dell Technologies Social Impact Blog, June 27, 2022. https://www.dell.com/en-us/blog/empower-communities-to-strengthen-their-digital-literacy-skills/

[2] Colorado State Library, “Benefits of a Digitally Literate Community,” (infographic), 2013. https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/tech/diglit/benefits.pdf

Rachael Brittain is the Coordinator of CWS and a second year Library Science student with a concentration in Archives and Records Management at UNC’s School of Library and Information Science. She has an interest in material preservation and community engagement. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Any spare moments are spent reading, listening to music, and hiking.

Edited by Jo Kwon

Featured Image: CWS Logo. Photo Credit: Jess Epsten

The Case for Public Space in Porthole Alley

February 24, 2020 / odrozd

By Luke Lowry

Franklin Street is undeniably the heart of Chapel Hill. It is where students rush after sports victories, where people socialize over food and drink, and where alumni reminisce about their college years. While UNC is many things to many different people, there is one area where it objectively falls short—providing adequate public space. However, a recent proposal by UNC to redevelop Porthole Alley has the potential to change that.

Porthole Alley is a popular pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare from Franklin Street to the UNC campus (pictured below). The redevelopment plan centers on the alley and the buildings on either side (128 E. Franklin St., 134 E. Franklin St, Hill Commercial Building, and the Porthole Building). The university has plans to maintain ground floor retail while building an Undergraduate Admissions Center, a Visitors Center, and other university office space. However, the plans are not finalized. In January of this year, the university and the contracted architectural firm KieranTimberlake held four community engagement workshops to solicit input on the proposed designs and to determine other possible uses. This spring, a complete concept design will be released. Since the university is still deliberating on potential uses, the possibility of incorporating public space remains.

Hill Commercial Building, Porthole Alley, and 134 E. Franklin St (via The News & Observer)

Chapel Hill does have a plethora of great public spaces (see CPJ contributor Brandon Tubby’s piece on the Top 10 Best Public Places in Chapel Hill). However, for a variety of reasons, these places don’t optimally serve those who live near downtown Chapel Hill. For starters, several of these places are difficult and time-costly to access from downtown. The Chapel Hill Public Library is the quintessential public space; it offers a space to gather and additional resources such as media, workshops, and events. With beautiful architecture and ample natural light, it’s also a joy to be in it. However, it’s location is disconnected from downtown Chapel Hill and disproportionately favors vehicular access. The library is a tremendous community asset, but downtown Chapel Hill lacks a comparable facility.

Chapel Hill Public Library (via Chapel Hill Public Library)

The public spaces in closer proximity to downtown Chapel Hill are still suboptimal. Many of the “public” spaces on Franklin Street are not truly public because they require a financial investment to utilize the space. The prime example of this is coffee shops, which are regularly used as a place for people to do work, meet with friends, conduct business meetings, or other random tasks. Starbucks has famously capitalized on this latent demand for public space— CEO Howard Schulz has routinely marketed the brand as a third-place (places outside of home and work where people can gather). These places usually function well because the investment to use the space is fairly cheap—a cup of coffee. However, the cost—however small—is still prohibitive to many people. For a place to be truly public, it should be free to access. In addition, because these third places are under private control, they can be unreliable. Starbucks has been in the headlines frequently over controversial cases where certain customers were forced from the store, such as when two black men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks minutes after arriving for being “non-paying customers.” This is not meant to disparage the important role of these private-public spaces for downtown Chapel Hill; however, there is still unmet demand for truly free public space.

Even further, these private-public spaces on Franklin Street are geared towards a specific demographic—college students and young adults. Franklin Street is known for its restaurants, retail, and entertainment, but these establishments are often one-dimensional and provide no utility for younger or older crowds. Chapel Hill can’t be blamed for this; businesses are catering to the most prevalent customer base. However, Porthole Alley offers a rare opportunity to supply that which the market would never provide—a space useful for all ages. Sometimes, public spaces will be useful primarily to only a subset of the population by necessity—for example, a teen center. However, public spaces should generally have some practical functions for all types of people, including all ages of people. As the popular public space advocacy group 880 Cities puts it, “If everything we do in our cities is great for an eight-year-old and an 80-year-old, then it will be great for everyone”.

While there is a demonstrated need for better public spaces in downtown Chapel Hill, many would argue that UNC has no obligation to provide it—and those people are correct. While the symbiosis between UNC and the Town of Chapel Hill is undeniable, the university ultimately holds no responsibility to provide this space. However, it would be acting against its own principles if it didn’t. The basis for the Porthole Redevelopment Project is the recently published 2019 University Master Plan, a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the campus. The plan establishes several overarching principles; one of them, Look Outward, says this: “UNC-Chapel Hill is of and for the public… The campus will be broadly welcoming and connected to its surroundings”. Clearly, there is a call for something which directly serves the public; the redevelopment needs something more than the Undergraduate Admissions Center and Visitors Center, which serve university objectives exclusively.

By failing to include public space, the university would also miss an opportunity for personal benefit. UNC has discussed Porthole Alley as the potential nexus of an innovation district, a concept that has been highly popularized in recent years. To this end, the redevelopment would include a facility for collaboration in the arts, sciences, or other fields. However, incorporating public space would be one of the best ways to foster innovation. In a joint study between Project for Public Spaces and the Brookings Institute, eight principles for successful innovation districts were determined; the first was to Make Innovation Visible and Public, the idea being that random interaction in an open environment is more innovative than purposeful interaction in a closed environment. Thus, providing public space in Porthole Alley could be complementary to broader university goals.

This public space could take many forms, but the specific function is less important than whether it is conveniently accessible, free, and as useful for as many people as possible. If UNC were to build a space in Porthole Alley which accomplished these things, it would benefit itself and improve downtown Chapel Hill as a place to be enjoyed by all for generations to come.

About the Author: Luke Lowry is a first-year master’s candidate in the Department of City and Regional Planning with a specialization in Transportation. He is particularly interested in pedestrian and bicycle planning as a means to increase equity and create vibrant communities. A lifelong resident of North Carolina, he enjoys spending time in the mountains near his hometown.

Where does the UNC campus get its energy?

January 30, 2018 / odrozd

The Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee (RESPC) is a branch of student government that funds renewable energy projects on campus. The group is funded by the green fee, a $4 fee assessed on all UNC students. In November 2017, several RESPC members toured the UNC Co-Generation plant on West Cameron Street with Time Aucoin, the Regulatory Compliance Coordinator at the plant. Many students do not realize that this facility produces much of the University’s energy. The Co-Generation plant keeps UNC’s energy exceptionally cheap ($0.05/kWh compared to the NC average of $0.12/kWh). Given that the University has its own plant, what are the implications for disincentivizing alternative energy sources?

The co-gen plant has a special use permit for operation, which is reviewed every 12-18 months by the Town of Chapel Hill. On site, there are two coal silos that have the capacity to hold 5,000 tons of coal each, but approximately 8,000 tons are kept on site at any time (in total). There is one additional silo with 10,000 tons on hand. These surpluses are not actively used, but kept on site in the event of lack of supplies. The plant would be able to operate for 30 days without any supplies.

One of the main focuses of the tour in November was the ways in which the co-gen plant is working to limit the environmental impacts of energy production.

The buildings where energy is produced have a negative draft, ensuring that no coal dust is released into the atmosphere. The plant also takes other safety measures to avoid environmental contamination. The baghouse houses six enormous nomex (same material used to make fireman suits) bags, which catch the toxic ash, called “fly ash,” from the burning process. These bag houses last about 6 years, and cost approximately $250,000 each to replace. The University replaces one bag every year. Inside the bags, the temperature is ambient to prevent condensation, and thereby acid rain. Fly ash is kept on site in a silo until shipment to Virginia.

“I’m glad to see the co-gen plant is taking measures to be responsible and control emissions, but climate change is a serious concern of students and coal is a generation method we’d like to move away from,” said Environmental Finance Center Student data analyst Erin Danford, after the tour.

The co-gen plant cannot sell electricity, it can only subsidize the University’s use.

The University uses approximately 100,000 lbs of steam per hour. The co-gen plant produces steam for the hospital for sterilization purposes. Approximately 80% of the steam that the University provides for the hospital comes back as hot water, usually around 180 degrees. The plant takes advantage of this heat by removing contaminants with a magnet, and reusing the water to create more steam. Since the water is already hot, it requires less energy to create steam. Co-gen staff are currently working to get a reverse osmosis machine so that they can remove contaminants from OWASA gray water for more sustainable steam production.

For the future, the plant is working on a coal reinjection program to reduce coal use and transition to gas and potentially biomass. On May 1, 2010, Chancellor Holden Thorp announced that the University would be coal-free by 2020, but it is unclear whether this goal will be seen to fruition. Information on progress toward this goal or how plans to achieve this goal were scrapped are difficult to find. Aucoin suggests that the University will only ever move away from coal if it is “financially prudent for students.”

“Coal is not clean nor sustainable, and I’d like to see our University taking greater steps to move towards renewable energy,” said Danford.

The co-generation plant is integral to the daily operations of the University, and more students and staff should learn about its role. “The tour was pretty interesting in terms of learning about the industrial side of energy and what goes on in the factories,” said RESPC member Jonathan Gonzalez.

Other articles about the UNC Co-Generation Plant by The Daily Tar Heel, The News & Observer, and Sustainability @ UNC.

Feature Image: CC0 MichaelGaida

About the Author: Olivia Corriere is an undergraduate student from Ann Arbor, Michigan, majoring in Environmental Studies (Sustainability Track) and minoring in Geography. She is particularly interested in the implementation of sustainable practices of all kinds in the daily lives of the public. During Summer 2017, she interned with the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative with the Karen’s Trail campaign. In her free time, she enjoys running, creating music playlists, and spending time in coffee shops with friends.

Editor: Katy Lang

Hey UNC Planning Community, What’s Off about New East?

April 28, 2017 / odrozd

The first time I walked into New East, I was overwhelmed by the sensation that something was off.

This happens to me from time to time, usually when I am in an unfamiliar space or a familiar space that has changed. This is not normally a hair-raising feeling, but it can become bothersome – particularly if the usual suspects have been eliminated and the impression persists.[1] If left unresolved, mild annoyance can fester into madness (e.g. what happened at the Overlook Hotel in The Shining).

New East is a special case. From the awkward foyer, to the single-occupant but double-stall restroom, to the fourth-floor staircase: the entire building suffers from spatial incongruence.

The north side of New East. Photo Credit: Alison Salomon

Last fall, I began looking for an explanation – a potential root cause from which all of these other bothersome (mis)uses have sprung. About two months into the semester, I developed a hypothesis: New East is backwards. Or, rather, we treat New East backwards. We primarily enter and exit through the back of the building, instead of using its intended front.

1-Glass_Negative_0255_New_East_March_1901_Scan_1

Undated photo of New East. Photo Credit: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection #P0004, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Here is my evidence:

The building’s cornerstone. Have you ever noticed it? Probably not, unless I pointed it out to you (thanks for feigning excitement). New East’s cornerstone is partially obscured by a small brick wall and is located on the northeast corner, far from the hubbub of the southeast and southwest corners. The north side of the building is closest to Franklin Street and the Planetarium. We treat it as the building’s “rear façade.” But cornerstones are usually found on front façades.
Architectural features of the building’s north side. Look at how attractive it is! In particular, notice the bump out that distinguishes this side from New East’s south side (a.k.a. the “front” of the building). The current approach to New East feels very anticlimactic, in part because the southern wall is so long, flat, and uninterrupted. The north-facing wall, by contrast, draws one in. Almost as though it is the building’s true front.
Old photographs of the building. I talked to a few librarians who maintain the North Carolina Collection over in Wilson Library. They showed me a bunch of archival photographs of New East. Prior to 1920, most of the images feature the present-day “rear façade” of the building. Why were people taking pictures of New East’s backside? Maybe because it was the front.
The layout of campus at the time of the building’s completion. Construction on New East occurred in the late 1850s and early 1860s, at which point McCorkle Place (the north quad) was the center of campus. According to the aforementioned librarians, the buildings on campus at that time would have fronted the quad. That means the northern side would have served as the main entrance to New East.

Undated photo of New East. Photo Credit: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection #P0004, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

It is clear to me that at some point the building got turned around. Externally and internally. I suspect that the construction of Cameron Avenue precipitated these changes. Following the reconfiguration of the building’s main entrance, New East underwent a series of interior renovations. The dual doors on the north and south walls were replaced with single entryways. The staircase was repositioned to open up to the newly christened front door on the southern wall, and assumed an ungodly amount of space in the process. Many of the building’s small rooms (New East was originally used as a dormitory) were grouped together to create lab space for the geology department. Out on the north lawn, the “New East Annex” was built and promptly demolished. For a brief moment in time, the basement held cadavers.[2]

The “New East Annex” was built and promptly demolished. Photo Credit: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection #P0004, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

I wish that I could say for certain that my hunch is correct. Another librarian over at Wilson is looking for archival blueprints for me. If those can be located and if I am granted access (it turns out blueprints are restricted documents), perhaps I will get my answers. In the meantime, I maintain my sanity by avoiding the central staircase, using the north door as much as possible, and reimagining the Reading Room.

If any of these things bother you, too, you might be interested in an upcoming group workshop focused on New East. The goal of the workshop is to understand how New East works and doesn’t work for its users. Your input will be compiled into a short report that can serve as a future resource in deciding how to allocate space in New East or make improvements to the building, as the need to do so may arise. The event will be on Tuesday, May 9th at 2pm in New East’s 2nd floor Reading Room.

There will be a brief introduction, followed by a half hour exercise identifying:
1. Important learning/working spaces.
2. Important social/supportive spaces.
3. Underutilized spaces or people and uses in need of space.
4. Important spaces for other functions including circulation, communication, and maintenance.

Student volunteers will be available until 5pm to hear any input you may have on the four subjects above.

[1] The usual suspects include, in order of frequency of offense: poorly arranged furniture, disproportionately-sized furniture, awkward area rugs, partitions, walled-over windows, stairways to nowhere, trap doors, and false mirrors.

[2] New East housed the medical school for a few years in the 1890s.

About the Author: Alison Salomon is a first year student pursuing a dual Master’s degree through the Department of City & Regional Planning and the Gillings School of Global Public Health. She studies the intersection of land use and health behavior and is passionate about food systems, placemaking, and active transportation. She takes pride in her buttermilk biscuits, shoe tying skills, and ability to turn anything into a game.

Tapping Wineries and Breweries as an Economic Development Tool

August 14, 2016 / odrozd

Sometimes the best way to incubate is to ferment. One Southeast Washington State city has leveraged its unique natural resources to create an incubator for aspiring winemakers.

Walla Walla, Washington, population roughly 30,000, is tucked away in the rural southeast corner of the Evergreen State, about 250 miles southeast of Seattle and 200 miles east of Portland, Oregon. It’s not the kind of place people go to by accident. In addition to being home to the Washington State Penitentiary, downtown Walla Walla was recognized as one the American Planning Association’s “Great Places in America” in 2012. Its vibrant, tree-lined historic downtown with abundant street-side dining and public gathering space is enough to entice tourists who might not otherwise venture to the far-flung corner of the state.

However, the quaint downtown and charm isn’t the only thing that brings people to Walla Walla. The tranquil town is surrounded by unique topography and climate that lends itself to growing wine grapes. Leoneti Cellars, established in 1977, trailblazed the industry, establishing a vineyard on a small plot of land southeast of downtown. The founder’s grandparents–Italian immigrants to the region at the turn of the 20th century–made a living as farmers and grew grapes so they could produce small batches of wine for themselves and family and friends. Over the next several years, the wine industry slowly gained momentum. With notoriously choosy consumers and a small number of wineries, it was not until the mid 1990s that the region started to gain recognition as a destination for wine enthusiasts.

Walla Walla Vineyard and Hot Air Balloons (3)

Hot air balloons rise over a vineyard at sunrise near Walla Walla, WA. Photo credit: author’s image.

Today, more than 140 wineries operate in and around Walla Walla. A 2011 report showed that the wine industry was directly responsible for more than 2000 jobs and annual revenue of roughly $96 million.¹ Counting multiplier jobs, the total rises to over 6000, nearly 15% of the region’s workforce. Perhaps most surprising is the industry’s steady growth during the recession: between 2006 and 2011 the wine industry in Walla Walla grew by over 11%.

Like the product itself, the region’s wineries took time to mature. As winemaking gained momentum in Walla Walla, local officials took notice, recognizing the nascent industry as a potential economic development boon for the region. However, winemaking is as much a science as it is an art. Aspiring winemakers in the region couldn’t find the trained professionals or afford to build the specialized production facilities they needed to expand their businesses.

Wine aging at Seven Hills Winery in Walla Walla, WA. Photo credit: Joe Mabel; Wikimedia Commons

Enter Walla Walla Community College. In 2000, the college, with assistance from local industry leaders and economic development officials, launched Associate’s Degrees and certificate programs in Enology and Viticulture, and in related fields such as branding and marketing. Local wineries and winemakers are involved with the program, providing both hands-on experience and financial aid. Students in the program are responsible for winemaking and operations of College Cellars, a state-bonded winery that partially funds the Enology and Viticulture program with its revenue. Today, the program’s graduates are not only helping sustain the winemakers already in the region but are striking out on their own, continuing to grow the industry. Its unique course offerings are also drawing in students from across the country who are seeking the specialized skills necessary to establish and operate a winery.

The Port Authority of Walla Walla and the state of Washington each played a significant role in advancing the industry to new heights. In 2006, the Washington State Economic Development Board allocated $1 million dollars to construct three “incubator” buildings on undeveloped land near the regional airport. Two years later, the state and the Port Authority funded an expansion of the facility from three buildings to five. Each building contains specialized production facilities, a tasting room, and offices, and can be leased by an upstart winemaking operation for up to six years. Rent for the facilities is scaled and increases annually, allowing tenants to keep costs low and boost working capital while they scale up operations. In addition, the incubators are in close proximity to many other local winemakers who lease nearby industrial facilities from the Port Authority, making it easy for winemakers to share expertise and for tourists to move from winery to winery sampling wine. Since they opened in 2007, the incubators have helped more than 20 wineries get off the ground. (Click here to view the program’s eligibility requirements and rent schedule)

Incubator Buildings. Photo Credit Port of Walla Walla

Incubator buildings near Walla Walla Regional Airport. Photo Credit: Port of Walla Walla

Recently, the incubator project welcomed a new tenant: a brewery. The hope is to entice the spirit-loving tourists coming to the region to trade the wine glass for a pint glass. The Port Authority might be onto something with their new tenant: central Washington state is one of the world’s best places to grow hops and produces roughly 77% of the country’s supply of the hemp variant. Could brewing be the new wine-making? It’s not yet evident–but city and state economic development professionals helped capitalize on their natural resources to promote a niche wine industry into a world-class asset for an otherwise stagnant rural region.

What can other cities and towns learn from Walla Walla?

Take Stock of Your Assets. Every city and town has something that sets it apart. There aren’t many places that are ideal for vineyards, but historic buildings, natural resources, or local artists, can become a source of pride (and revenue) for your city.
Look to the Edges. Talk to the folks living and doing work on the peripheries and learn more about what they’re up to and how it’s going. There could be a vibrant art community just outside of town looking for a partnership and guidance.
Form Creative Partnerships. The Port Authority of Walla Walla manages a regional airport and many other industrial facilities but they found a way to use their assets: providing construction financing and free land for development of the incubator facilities. Whether public or private, see what organizations are interested in a partnership.
Small is Good. Economic development officials in the area could have tried to entice a multinational commercial winemaker to come to the city as a wholesale buyer of local grapes, possibly even to establish a big production facility in the area. Instead, they went small, promoting boutique producers, creating more jobs, and having a greater economic impact on tourism and the region’s tax base.
Partner with Local Education Institutions. Not every industry requires an advanced degree but many–especially manufacturing and agriculture–require some sort of specialized training. See if there is a way to partner with local educational institutions to provide the skills necessary to grow and sustain an industry.

Cover photo: A picturesque vineyard a few miles south of Walla Walla, WA, with the Blue Mountains in the background. Photo credit: author’s image.

“Revisiting the Economic Impacts of the Walla Walla Wine Cluster.” Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc. 2011. Accessed from: https://www.wwcc.edu/CMS/fileadmin/wine/DOCS/Revisiting_the_Economic_Impacts_of_the_Walla_Walla_Wine_Cluster_EMSI.pdf

Chris Bendix is an Editorial Board member for CPJ. He has a passion for seeking equity, efficiency, and sustainability in policy-making, especially at the nexus of transportation and real estate. A Seattle native, Chris earned a BA in Philosophy from Whitman College (in Walla Walla, Washington). He will graduate from DCRP in 2017 with specializations in Housing & Community Development and Transportation.

Beyond DCRP: Alumni Updates

March 30, 2016 / odrozd

This weekend (March 1st & 2nd) is the annual Carolina Planning open house for the prospective class of 2018. As we welcome the new cohort to our community, it’s a perfect time to check in with our recent graduates and see what they’re up to. Enjoy this update from the DCRP class of 2015!

Walker Freer ‘15

Associate, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates

Boston, MA

In compact urban areas and redeveloping suburbs, the need for frequent, reliable, and affordable public transit is increasingly critical. Working with Nelson\Nygaard, I help implement short-range planning projects for public transit agencies, municipalities, and colleges and universities to modify service patterns to better serve existing transit demand. These planning efforts involve analyzing route ridership, demographics, and operational constraints to identify feasible solutions that satisfy transit demand while remaining efficient and cost-effective. Truly successful transportation projects must be approached comprehensively, and in addition to public transit Nelson\Nygaard actively addresses multiple elements of mobility. We work to promote and accommodate alternative means of transportation in nearly all projects. This includes augmenting bicycle and pedestrian access, reviewing paratransit options, and recommending the implementation of transportation demand and parking management programs.

Aaron Hursey ‘15

Urban Planner, City of Seattle

Seattle, WA

I work as an urban planner for the City of Seattle, splitting my time between the Seattle Design Commission (SDC) and the city’s Office of Planning and Community Development. My role includes providing support for the Commission, which advises city departments on the design of publically funded projects, capital improvement projects, and projects located within the city right-of-way. The SDC has reviewed major projects including the Seattle Arena, parks facilities, police precincts, and a pedestrian master plan.

I am also working with team and community members to create neighborhood streetscape design concept plans in Northeast Seattle as well as assisting with the update of neighborhood design guidelines. This past fall, I worked with team members by organizing and attending community meetings in order to generate feedback on the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan.

Maggie Parker ‘15

Loan Officer, The Real Estate Council Community Fund

Dallas, TX

The Real Estate Council (TREC) Community Fund provides access to capital and technical assistance for commercial real estate projects in low-income areas of Dallas and Collin Counties. We are an emerging Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and have a unique structure as we are housed within a trade and member-based organization for commercial real estate professionals, The Real Estate Council. In June 2015, after graduation, I became the first full-time employee of the TREC Community Fund with the goal of growing the fund to serve more communities and catalytic projects. In coordination with TREC staff, I manage all aspects of the Community Fund: loan origination, underwriting, closing, and servicing of loans to nonprofit and for-profit organizations seeking to develop commercial real estate projects. Additionally, I provide technical assistance along with managing TREC members’ pro bono development services which contribute to the success of TREC Community Fund borrowers.

Some of our recent projects include financing the acquisition and rehab of a juice bar, market, and café in a food desert and blighted neighborhood; providing a line of credit for non-profit developers to construct single-family homes; and funding the acquisition of land for a clinic in a medically-underserved area as a transit-oriented development project. Through this position, I get to be a part of the implementation of ideas that make Dallas what the community envisions.

Kari Grace ‘15

Planner I, Town of Morrisville

Morrisville, North Carolina

I work in current planning for the Town of Morrisville’s Planning Department. Morrisville, NC is a rapidly growing and evolving town located in the center of the Triangle region. My work focuses on development review, including reviewing plans, supporting text amendment processes, processing annexation requests, and responding to planning and zoning inquiries from the public and developers. I’m also working on initiatives and projects in historic preservation, active living, and community appearance.

This update was compiled by: Jonathan Ahn, Shati Khan, Allen Lum, and Estefany Noria of the DCRP Alumni and Career Development Committee

Carolina Graduate Student Organizations Win American Planning Association Award

March 9, 2016 / odrozd

Planners’ Forum and Carolina Planning Journal, two student-led organizations in the Department of City and Regional Planning at The University of North Carolina, were recently named joint recipients of the American Planning Association (APA) Outstanding Planning Student Organization Award for 2016.

The APA Student Representatives Council (SRC) Executive Committee designed this awards program to, as stated on the APA website: promote students’ volunteer involvement in their student organization, communities, and state chapters; recognize the outstanding efforts of these student groups; identify best practices in student organizations; and strengthen the ties between student organizations and the American Planning Association.

Carolina’s organizations were granted this award based on their efforts this year to organize a series of initiatives to create a meaningful experience for students. First, the Carolina Planning Journal published a print volume in May 2015 around the theme of “Planning for the New Economy.” This blog, which publishes twice per week and has attracted a wide readership of almost 2,000 unique visitors in 2016 alone, also featured prominently in the award.

Carolina Planning Journal Editorial Board at the Fall 2015 Launch Party. Photo Credit: Cara Isher-Witt.

Second, its inclusion group, Plan for All, hosted twelve events that engaged issues ranging from planning for LGBTQ folks, public engagement best practices, black planning history, hazard planning and equity, and more. The group hosted Durham Mayor Bill Bell for a conversation about race and poverty in September 2015. Plan for All members are also working with faculty to identify gaps in the curriculum relating to race, class, gender, and equity.

Durham Mayor, Bill Bell speaks with DCRP students and faculty during a Plan for All Brown Bag. Photo Credit: Udo Reisinger.

Third, its Career Development Committee coordinated a number of events and resources to assist students in finding jobs and internships in the field, such as resume workshops and mock interview events. Students also organized a Fall Break Trip to Atlanta that connected Carolina Planning students with some of Atlanta’s most exciting planners such as planner Ryan Gravel, who dreamed up Atlanta’s Belt Line, Tim Keane, Atlanta’s Planning Commissioner, and Nedra Deadwyler, founder of Civil Bikes.

DCRP students tour Atlanta’s Ponce City Market with new Planning Commissioner, Time Keane. Photo Credit: Tim Quinn.

These organizations will be recognized in April at the National APA Conference, and will receive a cash award. This award will be used to support next year’s programming, events, development, publications, and trips.

For more information about this award, see the APA’s announcement https://www.planning.org/awards/pso/ or contact the Carolina Planning Journal and Planners’ Forum.

Featured Image: Watercolor of DCRP’s home base, the New East building at UNC Chapel Hill. Artist Credit: Cara Isher-Witt (DCRP ’15).