Our class project culminated earlier this month in the first ULI UrbanPlan workshop ever in Mountain View. A diverse group of city employees, planners, concerned neighbors, and representatives of vulnerable populations came together to co-create a visionary plan for a (realistic but imagined) blighted neighborhood, and to learn about each other.
The ULI Urban Plan workshop teaches in an interactive way (using maps, legos, financial spreadsheets and role-playing) the challenges of meeting and exceeding environmental, equity, and planning requirements by the city, and balancing the wishes of neighborhood groups, while generating sufficient returns for investors and staying within the city budget. It grapples with intricate matters related to absorption rates, historic buildings, homeless shelter placements, mixed-income housing, retail, and job creation.
One attendee said "I learned that community-oriented goals, like preserving historic buildings, offering affordable housing, and incorporating green spaces, are attainable with the collective will of stakeholders."
Equally as important as learning about urban development was the opportunity for participants to get to know fellow community members. Through conversations about the fictional neighborhood, they came to cherish points of alignment and to understand and respect other points of view. These humans connections will prove valuable as the community grapples with our current and future real development issues.
The day wrapped up with each team pitching their vision and plan to a city council.
See more at ULI Urban Plan for Communities
Ines, Jay, Danielle & Rajiv with thanks to Brian Kosinski for the inspiration & help
Thanks also to Sares Regis Group and Andersen Windows for their corporate sponsorship of the event, and to Leadership Sunnyvale for partnering with LMV and providing additional funding and food, and last but not least to the City of Mountain View for providing the venue and event coordination.
