Urban Plan

Homework # 1A - Reading the Request for Proposal (RFP)

Use the Urban Plan On-Line Handbook to answer the homework questions.  The materials you need to read to answer the questions begin on page 13 in the section titled "Request for Proposal" (or RFP).

Important Note - You need to be logged into your BHS Google Account to access the materials.  

Urban Plan On-line Handbook - click here

Classwork # 1 - Work with Site Builder & Financial Model

Important Note - You need to be logged into your BHS Google Account to access the materials

On-line Site Builder Program Instructions - click here

On-line Financial Model - click here (note: this is view only - you need to make copy for your drive)

Use the on-line Site Builder program to create a site plan with the following buildings on specific blocks:

• Block # 1 - Build one Condo 2 and one Q-Mart and Parking

• Block # 2 - Remove the Phoenix Hotel.  Build one Midrise Office 2 and parking, one Lowrise 1B and parking, one Retail 2 and parking, one Podium 2 and two parks.

• Block # 3 - Keep York Dry Goods.  Build one Podium 1, three townhouses and two parks.

• Block # 4 - Keep Victoria Row.  Build one Podium 1 and one Podium 2

• Block # 5 - Build one Lowrise Office 1A and parking, one Podium 2 and Courts 

• Block # 6 - Build two Townhouses and one New Shelter

Homework # 2- Videos - Urban Planning

Printable Copy of Assignment - click here

Homework # 2 - Financial Model

Important Note - You need to be logged into your BHS Google Account to access the materials

On-line Financial Model - click here (note: this is view only - you need to make copy for your drive)

Questions:

What is the rate of return?

What is the 10-year net revenue for the city? 

How many jobs are created?  Part-time Entry Level: _____     Full-time Entry Level: _____    Mid-Paying: _____     High-Paying: _____  

How many affordable housing units are there?  Podium: _______________     Rehab:  _____________

Will this plan have any vacant units (retail, office or residential) after three years?  If yes, what are they?

How high can you make the percentage of "net zero buildings" and still earn a 13.5% rate of return?

What will the different neighborhood groups think of this plan?

Homework # 3 - Reading Neighborhood Letters 

Important Note - You need to be logged into your BHS Google Account to access the materials

Printable Copy of Assignment - click here

Homework # 3- Build Your Own Plan

In this assignment, you will build your own plan for the Elmwood District.  Do not worry about the demands of the RFP - build the type of neighborhood you would like to see in the Elmwood District.  You will build the plan in the Site Builder program and in the Financial Model - you will then answer the questions in the assignment.  You should fill the form out on-line and then print it out to turn it in.

This is the link to the assignment

Homework # 4 - Learning the Roles

Important Note - You need to be logged into your BHS Google Account to access the materials

Printable Copy of Assignment - click here (Important - Each member of the team only needs to complete the part that corresponds to their role)

Land Use Comparison Chart - click here

Homework # 5 - First Group Plan

Copy of Assignment - click here (Note - each group needs to complete one copy of the assignment to turn in next class)

In this assignment, you will develop your own plan for the Elmwood District by building a plan in the Site Builder program and entering that plan into the Financial Model.  These are the links for both of those programs   

Link for Site Planner - click here Link for the Financial Model - click here  

Questions:

What type of neighborhood are you trying to create in your plan?

What are you doing with the historic building (Phoenix Hotel, Victorian Row and York Dry Goods)?

What did you do with the homeless shelter in your plan?

Did you put a Q-Mart or supermarket in your plan?  Why?

What is the rate of return on your plan?  

What is the 10-year net revenue for the city created by your plan? 

How many jobs are created by your plan?

Part-time Entry Level: Full-time Entry Level: Mid-Paying: High Paying: 

How many affordable housing units are there in your plan?

Podium: Townhouse:  Rehab: 

Do you think this is a good amount of affordable housing?  Why?

What do you have in your plan that would make it environmentally friendly?  What percent of carbon offsets do you have? 

Will this plan have any vacant units (retail, office or residential) after three years?  If yes, what are they?

What would each neighborhood group think of this plan and why?

Skate On!:

ProArts:

Grace Memorial Church:

Jobs & Justice:

Elmwood Homes for All:

Yorktown University:

The Old Urbanists:

Elmwood Alliance:

Homework # 6 - Preparing for First Facilitation 

The Facilitation process is an important part of the Urban Plan process. It is your opportunity to learn from people who do this for a living. However, getting the most out of this experience requires that you are prepared for the process. This form is designed to help your group prepare for the first Facilitation. Your group needs to answer the following questions in preparation for the first Facilitation.  Your group will turn in a printed copy of this assignment at the start of the First Facilitation.

Printable Copy of Assignment - click here

Homework # 6 - Videos on Urban Planning # 2

Printable Copy of Assignment - click here

Homework # 7 - Preparing for Second Facilitation 

The Facilitation process is an important part of the Urban Plan process. It is your opportunity to learn from people who do this for a living. However, getting the most out of this experience requires that you are prepared for the process. This form is designed to help your group prepare for the second Facilitation. Your group needs to answer the following questions in preparation for the second Facilitation.  Your group will turn in a printed copy of this assignment at the start of the First Facilitation.

Homework # 6 - More Videos on Urban Planning

Printable Copy of Assignment - click here

Homework # 7 - Preparing for City Council

The City Council Meeting is the final part of the Urban Plan program.   This is where each team will present its development plan for the Elmwood District to a group of people representing the City Council for Yorktown.   There are two parts of this presentation: 

⮚ Formal Presentation of Plan – This will be 5 minutes in length.  In this time, the team needs to present its “Vision” or “Mission” Statement  for the city and show how the plan meets the “Vision” Statement and the demands of the RFP from the  perspective of each team member.   My suggestion of the order of team members in the presentation would be Marketing Director, Site Planner, Financial Analyst, Environment & Equity Director and Neighborhood Liaison  - and then Marketing Director to quickly wrap it up.   

⮚ Question and Answer Period – This will be a 10 minute period in which the members of the City  Council will ask the team questions about their city – some questions addressed to the whole team and  some to specific members of the team.  Good answers will explain the reason the team made the  decisions it did and show that it is the right decision in light of the “Vision” Statement.  It is important for every member of the team to speak (at least once) in answering questions and for team members to build on each other's answers and not talk over each  other.

Materials to Prepare for City Council

City Council Checklist - click here

City Council Report - This is a short document that contains all of the important materials to support the presentation.  It should have the following parts:

• First Page - Title Page - Team name, team photo and names and roles of each team member

• Second Page - Vision Statement 

• Third Page - Map from 2-D Site-Builder Program

• Fourth Page - Two images from 3-D Site-Builder Program from different angles

• Fifth Page - Two images from Streetmix, one showing the intersection of 9th and York Ave. and the other showing the intersection of 9th and Elm St.

• Sixth Page - Target tenant list for retail and office space (listed by block # 1 - 6) 

• Seventh Page- Summary Sheet page from Financial Model 

• Eighth Page - Use Allocation Sheet from Financial Model

City Council Power Point - You will show this during the presentation and its purpose is to highlight the important parts of presentation (you may also want to use this to support answers to questions).  It should have the following parts: 

• Slide # 1 - Team Name & Slogan based on Vision Statement

• Slide # 2 - Map from 2-D Site-Builder Program

• Slide # 3 - Two images from Streetmix, one showing the intersection of 9th and York Ave. and the other showing the intersection of 9th and Elm St.

• Slide # 4 - Summary of important financial data (bullet point summary - not screen shot of financial model)

• Slide # 5 - Summary of Environmental and Equity information

• Slide # 6 - Summary of Neighborhood Groups (chart that lists each group and what they get from the plan)

• Slide # 7 - Target Tenant List shown on Map from 2-D Site-Builder Program

City Council Grade Sheet - click here

Sample Power Point from Previous Year - click here

Sample Project Reports from Previous Years - Note, the details of Urban Plan have changed from then.

Sample Project Proposal # 1 - click here

Sample Project Proposal # 2 - click here

Sample Project Proposal # 3 - click here