Master of Regional Planning (MRP) Theses and Exit Projects
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This is a collection of Master in Regional Planning (MRP) Theses and Exit Projects for the Department of City and Regional Planning.
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Item NAVIGATING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF UAV AND WEB-BASED 3D MODELING TECHNOLOGIESHu, Dingkun (2024)Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have emerged as a transformative technology within urban management as an aerial photography tool that presents novel avenues for refining digital twin creation, fostering public engagement, and deepening comprehension of the built environment. This study examines the accuracy of 3D models produced through UAV photogrammetry in contrast to web-based 3D models. By doing so, it interprets the consequential impact of such variances on their adaptability across diverse urban and regional planning tasks. Discerning each approach's distinct merits and demerits, the research identifies optimal contexts for their respective deployment. In addition, the paper addresses the limitations intrinsic to UAV deployment in urban and regional planning. These insights pave the way for innovative avenues in 3D model construction that amplify public engagement and involvement, thereby cultivating a more inclusive and informed planning paradigm.Item ASSESSING DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN TOMPKINS COUNTYYidi Xu (2024)This project scrutinizes the accessibility of delivery services in Tompkins County, with particular focus on access by older adults and senior housing communities. Attention is given to pharmacies and grocery stores as a means of address access, especially in communities which lack grocery stores or pharmacies. Investigating the spatial dimensions of service accessibility, the research delves into how the geographic location of senior housing is related to access to grocery and pharmacy delivery options. The study's intent is twofold: to examine the alignment of grocery and pharmacy delivery services with senior needs and to uncover gaps where older adults may be marginalized. Employing a combination of geospatial analysis and connecting stakeholders, the project maps out the current delivery service landscape. The practical implications of this research are direct and manifold. By pinpointing the delivery service shortcomings for older adults, the study will provide actionable insights for local governments, urban planners, and businesses to implement targeted improvements. The project's findings aim to not only foster enhanced service delivery but also contribute to the discourse on age-friendly communities. This project contributes a foundational piece in the strategic planning that aspires to an inclusive future, where the quality of life for older adults is augmented through accessible and equitable service provision.Item LIVING ON A PRAYER: FAITH-BASED HOUSING AS A POLICY TOOLMatthew Goldenberg (2024)The housing shortage is a pressing issue in the United States, with the situation showing little signs of improvement. The distribution of missing units as a percentage of available supply trends is not evenly distributed by state. Most heartland states east of the Mississippi River see rates of less than 10%. Conversely, California stands at 31%, with Washington, Oregon, Florida, and New York trailing at 26%, 22%, 20%, and 18% respectively (Corinth & Dante, 2022, p. 11). This paper presents faith-based housing as an underutilized resource that, if tapped, would serve to lessen the negative effects of the housing shortage. Core to this position is a quantitative argument that churches and other houses of worship can operate housing more efficiently due to their general exemptions from property taxes, and their ability to realize below market basis for land acquisition costs. This paper does not posit that faith-based housing could in of itself alleviate the housing shortage. As such, this paper is directed towards readers, notably built environment professionals, who are seeking an additional tool which can complement an existing portfolio of housing gap closure measures.Item The Land Underneath It All: Property, Ownership, and Belonging in Salamanca, New YorkShoshana Davidson (2023-12-19)This research examines the unique case of Salamanca, the only U.S municipality situated within a federally recognized Native American Territory, Seneca Nation of Indian's Allegany Territory. In the 1990s, Salamanca faced the expiration of a restrictive 99-year lease imposed on the Seneca Nation by the U.S. Congress in 1892, locking the them into minimal rent payments. Renegotiations led to a new 40-year lease featuring fair market value payments and a $60 million compensation from federal and state governments. This study seeks to understand the post-restoration dynamics, exploring the city's decline from its heyday to current socio-economic struggles. By examining the historical relationship between the Seneca Nation and their land, the research aims to elucidate the complexities of land governance in Salamanca, navigating both traditional Indigenous and Western perspectives. Finally, this paper argues that property is not merely a legal concept but a socio-cultural construct linked to identity and power.Item Policies in motion: Tracing Pakistan's urban transport evolutionMariam Fatima (2023-12-25)This essay critically examines urban transportation policies in Pakistan to understand the evolution of the urban public transport system. By dissecting and categorizing the problems associated with these policies, this study highlights the key factors contributing to the state of urban public transport in the country. The essay also utilizes examples of urban transport projects to substantiate the identified issues. Additionally, a timeline of significant transportation policies is presented to provide a historical context. The essay concludes by offering policy recommendations aimed at addressing the challenges faced by urban transportation in Pakistan. These include changes in land use from mixed-use to zoning as well as policies to address the lack of strong legal institutions, lack of proper management, lack of investment, as well ass engagement with a complex politics rife with inconsistncies.Item REIMAGINING CENTER ITHACA: THE GARDEN MARKET FOOD HALL & SHARED-USE KITCHENAlvieno James De Matos Oliani Stinson (Cornell University, 2023-12-21)Reimagining Center Ithaca: The Garden Market & Shared-Use Kitchen is an asset management plan focusing on the renovation of the ground floor atrium food court and basement of the Center Ithaca building in Ithaca, NY. The plan calls for the transformation of the atrium food court into a mini-food hall and the basement into a shared-use commissary kitchen. Reimagining Center Ithaca examines the social and economic history of food halls and commissary kitchens as well as new shifts in consumer behavior to justify the development of a food hall and shared-use kitchen concept that meets the needs of consumers and food entrepreneurs in Ithaca, NY. Beyond providing historic and economic context as justification for the renovations, this asset management plan walks through a conceptual development exercise that rebrands, designs and reprograms the building's atrium food court and basement. It closes with an investment analysis with a recommendation on whether to pursue the renovation project.Item TRANSPORTATION RACISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF EQUITY: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF NEW ORLEANS AND JOHANNESBURGJosh M. Washington (2023-12-15)Item EXPLORING ZONING FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITYShen, Ada (Duxixi) (2023-12)The New York City Zoning Resolution, while historically effective in regulating business locations, suffers from outdated regulations hindering the growth and expansion of local businesses. This study employs text analysis and diverse data sources to identify incongruities between businesses and zoning resolutions, revealing popular nonconforming activities like restaurants and entertainment venues. The analysis reveals the demand for local retail and services has exceeded the planned capacity in commercial and mixed-use districts. The spatial analysis also identifies areas like Bushwick and Park Slope-Gowanus with diverse nonconforming activities in C1 and R6 Districts. Recommendations emphasize the need for a smarter approach to updating uses as well as merging akin classifications to accommodate identical uses and reduce the “red tape” in the zoning regulations. Overall, this project aims to furnish a novel methodology for zoning analysis and provide recommendations to policymakers and planners in the zoning and economic development field.Item CARTOONING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: A PARTICIPATORY PLANNING FRAMEWORK[SHOP]Suvarna, Swathi (2023-12-14)Climate change threatens societies worldwide, necessitating effective communication to raise awareness and engage diverse communities. Planners play a key role by sharing knowledge and learning from and with vulnerable populations affected by climate issues. This report investigates using cartooning as a tool to enhance engagement between planners and communities when language and illiteracy present significant barriers. I analyzed a series of workshops, my friend and RISD alumni Sumanth Krishna and I collaborated on and conducted, called 'Cartooning for Climate,' which used cartoons to communicate climate impacts to young refugee students from Syria currently based in Turkey. The report explores how this participatory frame[workshop] can decode complex climate concepts and foster dialogue, and how using cartoons, planners can reach a wider audience for climate justice actions. Drawing on the workshops and participation principles like Gaventa's Power Cube, this report presents a framework for planners to communicate climate risks to communities and foster inclusive climate action. The report highlights cartooning's potential in climate communication, promoting creative engagement and united responses to the climate crisis, particularly with young people.Item WHETHER 15-MINUTE COMMUNITY-LIFE CIRCLE PLANNING IS A MIRAGE: A CASE STUDY IN SHANGHAIZhao, Ziyu (Ziyu ZHAO, 2023-08-25)The 15-minute community life circle planning is the new model for providing community public services in China. As the national pilot zone, Shanghai has constructed community life circles since 2016. However, the existing research shows that people’s needs in the life circle are not met and a huge disparity in the supply of community facilities exists between the center city and the suburban areas. This paper reviews the history of China providing community public services and examines the changes in the value of community governance. Taking Shanghai as an example, this paper conducts research and spatial evaluation, summarizes the existing mismatch, and proposes an alternative community life circle model focusing on improving collaboration among government, market, and civil organizations, rather than adjusting fixed physical parameters. This paper aims to provide a reference for further research on community services supply to promote a more inclusive and equitable built environment.